PROFESSIONAL:
LTC Canaday was born and raised in Independence, KS. He enlisted as a supply specialist in the Kansas Army National Guard in July, 2001 and served there until receiving a nomination to West Point. He commissioned in the United States Army in 2006 through the United States Military Academy as an Armor Officer. He served in tank and cavalry scout units in the U.S., Iraq and South Korea as a platoon leader, executive officer, troop commander and plans/operations officer. In 2013, LTC Canaday began his career as a foreign area officer. He served as a pol-mil officer in the Pentagon in 2016, and then transferred to US Central Command J5 where he worked as a country director from 2018-2021. In August 2021, he moved to the Kyrgyz Republic and served as the Chief, Office of Military Cooperation. Since August 2023, LTC Canaday is assigned to U.S. Embassy, Republic of Georgia as Chief, Defense Threat Reduction Agency Regional Office for Caucasus and Turkey.
EDUCATION:
LTC Canaday earned a Bachelor of Science in Russian Language and Literature from the United States Military Academy at West Point (2006) and a Master of Arts in International Policy and Practice at the George Washington University in Washington, DC (2018). His military training includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course, Defense Language Institute Russian language course, Command and General Staff College the Defense Security Cooperation Course and the Army War College’s Defense Strategy Course.
AWARDS:
LTC Canaday’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (second award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (second award) and Iraq Campaign Medal (3 stars).