Dan Ali was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army through the Short Service Commission at the Nigerian Defence Academy. Dan-Ali has served in numerous command, sections and staff capacities, such as commanding the Nigerian contingent supporting the United Nations Africa Hybrid Mission in Sudan, Directing Staff of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Chief Instructor (CI) at the Nigerian Defence Academy, and the Director Military Training before getting posted to the Ministry of Defence's Logistics Department as Deputy Director.