SUBJECT: Biography: LTC Matthew M. Canfield
LTC Canfield is from New Smyrna Beach, Florida andbegan his Military career in September 1980 as an enlisted Infantryman in the US Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1983 after which he entered the University of Florida. As a Student at UF, then Sergeant Canfield joined Army ROTC while participating in the Simultaneous Membership Program with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces group. He graduated in 1987, Cum Laude (with honors) earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classics. He was also a Distinguished Military Graduate.
LTC Canfield’s first assignment was with C Company, later H Company, 3rd US Infantry, The Old Guard. He was a Rifle Platoon Leader (Firing Parties) and later led the Presidential Salute Guns Battery (Guns Platoon). He was later hand picked to be the Aide-De-Camp for the Director of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC) and participated in President Clinton’s 1992 Inaugural.
He reported to the 2d Infantry Division, ROK in 1994 where commanded Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry and later Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2d Brigade.
In 1996 he began a three year tour at JRTC and FortPolk as an Observer /Controller for the Operations Group. He was later the Installation Protocol Officer and the Secretary to the General Staff.
Returning to the 2d Infantry Division in 1999, LTC Canfield spent 13 months as the S3 for 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, CampGreaves. After he returned to the states, he entered the AirCommandStaffCollege, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama. Upon graduation he returned to the 3rd US Infantry, The Old Guard where he was the Regimental Executive Officer. He participated in OPERATIOIN NOBLE EAGLE and was among the first to respond to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. He spent three weeks, along with the Regiment, assisting local, state, and federal agencies with rescue and recovery operations.
In 2003, LTC Canfield reported back to FortPolk where he was an Observer/Controller, Chief of Plans and Operations, and the Operations Group Chief of Staff. While assigned to JRTC, he deployed three times in support of OIF---2003 to gather lessons learned from the invasion; 2004 as a Field Team Member, Improvised Explosive Device Task Force; May 2005-May 2006 as the Senior US Advisor to the Iraqi Intervention Force (IIF) and later, Deputy Senior Advisor to the 1stIraqi Division, Camp Habbaniyah, Al Anbar Province. He and his Iraqi counterparts were attached to and fought with the 3rd Infantry Division in OPERATION SQUEEZE PLAY---Yusifiyah, Lutifiya, and Mahmoudiyah (June-July 2005). When the 1st Iraqi Division was attached to the Multi-National Force-West, LTC Canfield went with them and fought with the 2d Marine Division and I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in combat Operations in Ramadi, Fallujah, Hit, Rawah, and Al Qa’im.
LTC Canfield has three graduate degrees---LouisianaStateUniversity (MA Liberal Arts), AuburnUniversity (Masters of International Relations) and AirUniversity (Master of Military Operational Art and Science). His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards) Armed Forces Commendation Medal. Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), USMC Good Conduct Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korea defense Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Naval Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3 awards), Air Assault Badge, Parachute Badge (Airborne), Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and ranger Tab.
He is married to the former Lisa Sherman of San Antonio, Texas and has a 3 year old Son, Rocco, and 5 year old daughter, Maggie.