'Deji Ayoade loves the quiet. It was not always that way. Growing up in Nigeria, his life was once filled with impoverishment and loss.

Born in 1980, in a time when his native country had made significant strides following a brutal civil war and military dictatorship, he watched as it slowly slipped back into economic hardship, wrought with corruption and religious violence.

Ayoade remembers rocking back and forth between the seemingly endless challenges his family endured. His father lost his job. His mother's business is going bankrupt. In the emotional and physical toil it took on everyone, Ayoade dreamed of a better life. One day, in the aftermath of what would be another in a series of emotionally complicated scenes playing out in his life, he promised to take his mother away from the madness.

His journey—from being a gifted student in a broken down world to the hero in one of the most inspiring stories you may have never heard of—is worth embracing. 'Deji Ayoade used to hitch rides on the back of petrol tankers to get to his exam center. He went on to become the first African immigrant nuclear missile operator in the U.S. Air Force, where he would end up serving in three U.S. military branches, including the U.S. Space Force Department of Defense Civilian at the Pentagon.

But as remarkable as the ride has been, it is only part of Ayoade's story. The spaces that strategically fit in between those duties are equal parts impressive ever since he left Nigeria on July 4, 2008 (his own Independence Day). "It has been a journey, which for the most part, has been moving from one challenge to the next until all those visions I had finally became realities. When I look back and see myself going from one phase to the next, it almost seems inconceivable. I grew up in Nigeria. I finished my primary and second level school there. I received my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and practiced a few years there. And then I realized I could not go any further."

Click for More - Video 1

"How Early Experiences Fuel Ongoing Resilience and Determination "

Or Scroll down to the Video Section for more.

It was in the silence, those times he could steal away, that he plotted the next steps in his journey. , he did, until he realized again that there was more. So, after getting married, he sat down with his wife, Tolu, and said he was joining the military. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy., he became a combat medic, until he was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. After his active-duty career ended in the Air Force, he transitioned to civilian life and was offered a position by the Air Force at the Pentagon. 

Click for More - Video 2

"From Military to Civilian

Overcoming Challenges During the Pentagon Transition "

Or Scroll down to the Video Section for more.

In January 2021, he received a notification from his General that he had been selected for the Secretary of the Air Force recognition. Nearly a year later, in October 2022, he was selected as a "Space Force Guardian of the Year" at the Pentagon level. Every move, every rung on the ladder, was more than he ever expected.

Click for More - Video 3

"Air Force and Space Force Recognitions "

Or Scroll down to the Video Section for more.

In his book, "UNDERGROUND: A Memoir of Hope, Faith, and the American Dream," Ayoade recounts how each step led him to places of remarkable pride and valor. "Ever since I was seven years old, I dreamed of America. I knew the sacrifices I had to make, and the faith and hope it would take to get here. And while there has been a little wind from time to time, it happened. And it has taken me to a place where I believe anything can happen. That's the one thing this country has not denied me; it has shown me that if I keep going at a hard pace and put in the hard work and commitment, dreams can come true." 

Click for More - Video 4

"The Story Behind...

UNDERGROUND: A Memoir of Hope, Faith, and the American Dream  "

Or Scroll down to the Video Section for more.

His book, which complements other poetic writings he has published, is an ode to the heartfelt moral tenets and emotional moments he has endured. Interestingly, the title, "UNDERGROUND," speaks almost poetically to Ayoade's love of the silence and quiet times he so often relies on. As a nuclear operations officer working on classified assignments some 70 feet below the earth's surface in bunkers where he did his work, Ayoade has learned to further appreciate the wisdom that silence offers.

"It takes a different kind of person to do what we do. Each of us has a talent, a gift that we can excel at. For me, it's important that my principles are true. If you are a combat medic, you have to be physically able to do that.  If you're a nuclear missile operator, you have to be mentally strong enough to handle the silence and precision. But as solo as the job can be, the military is built on teamwork. We value each other and what we are each supposed to do. I strongly believe our success—each of us—depends on each other."

Click for More - Video 5

"The Power of Teamwork. Fostering Collaboration and Respect in High-Stakes Roles"

Or Scroll down to the Video Section for more.