Lieutenant Colonel Anklam was born in Saginaw, Michigan and was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In August 1994, he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps under an infantry option and attended Recruit Training at Parris Island, S.C., graduating as the Company Honor Graduate. His enlisted assignments include 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and Inspector Instructor Staff, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. In 1996, he deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and participated in Operation SILVER WAKE. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant as an enlisted Marine, and in 2002 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program from the University of Florida, NROTC.
Lieutenant Colonel Anklam’s officer assignments include Fleet Marine Force tours in both 1st and 2d Marine Divisions. Following Infantry Officer’s Course he was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in Camp Pendleton, California. While there he served as a rifle platoon and weapons platoon commander during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II, and III, in Fallujah and Ramadi, Iraq in 2004 and 2005. As a Captain he was assigned to 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 2d Marine Division, where he served as the Echo Company and Weapons Company commander during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, in Marjah and Sangin districts, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010,11,12. As a Major, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan in 2017 with the Unit Deployment Program as Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division.
Lieutenant Colonel Anklam’s other duty stations include service as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment and Liaison to the Commanding General, United States Army Infantry Center, Ft. Benning, Ga.; Marine Officer Instructor and Associate Professor of Naval Science for the Naval Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, Purdue University; Speechwriter to the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.; Strategist for the Joint Force Development Team, The Joint Staff, J-7; and Deputy Program Manager – Assault Breaker II portfolio, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Lieutenant Colonel Anklam is a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Captains Career Course, receiving the Ralph Puckett Leadership Award, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Distinguished Graduate. He also served as CMC-Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Security Studies Program.
A dedicated life-long learner, Lieutenant Colonel Anklam has continuously pursued off-duty educational opportunities. He graduated from Columbus State University with a Master of Public Administration degree in 2008, and completed a Ph.D. from Purdue University Polytechnic Institute in May 2015.
His personal awards include: 2 Bronze Star Medals with Combat “V”, Purple Heart Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, 4 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (2 with Combat “V”), 3 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (1 with Combat “V”), the Army Achievement Medal, and 2 Combat Action Ribbons.
Lieutenant Colonel Anklam has been married to the former Angela Marie Houghton of Louisville, Kentucky for 26 years. Together they have three children.