Former Maquis fighter who served aboard Voyager as a security and relief bridge officer through the entire seven-year journey home.
Ayala was a Maquis fighter on Chakotay's ship who joined Voyager's crew after the Caretaker stranded both vessels, taking a provisional Starfleet rank. Played by Tarik Ergin, he was one of the most familiar faces in the background of the series and the only recurring crew member besides the regulars seen in both the pilot and the finale.
He worked in engineering and at operations before settling into security, often standing in at tactical when Tuvok left the bridge and sometimes taking the helm. When a distortion ring being trapped the senior officers on the holodecks, Ayala was left in command of the bridge.
In Repression, Ayala was one of the former Maquis brainwashed into seizing the ship, serving as one of Chakotay's guards. In Shattered, Chakotay met a younger Ayala from an earlier point in time who helped him fight the Kazon holding engineering. He is established as the father of two children waiting for him in the Alpha Quadrant.