Ismail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Turkish Naval Academy, a Master’s degree in Operations Research from Columbia University in the city of New York, and a second Master’s degree in Management of National and International Security Strategies and Leadership from Turkish Naval War College. He served in the Turkish Navy on board frigates mainly in the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas until the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Ismail has been covering military-strategic topics mainly on the Black and Caspian Seas for several years.