Colonel Canfield was commissioned in May of 1993 after graduating from Virginia Tech with a BS in Civil Engineering. Upon completion of The Basic School and the Infantry Officers Course, he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and 81mm Mortar Platoon Leader with Second Battalion, Second Marines from 1994-97.
In May of 1997, Colonel Canfield was reassigned to The Basic School where he served as Weapons Platoon Commander, Enlisted Instructor Company and as an instructor at the Infantry Officer Course until August of 2000. Upon completion of Amphibious Warfare School in May of 2001, Colonel Canfield served as India Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer with Third Battalion, Second Marines from 2001-2004.
In June of 2004, Colonel Canfield transferred to Raleigh, North Carolina where he served as the Marine Officer Instructor, Associate Professor of Naval Science, and Battalion Advisor for the NROTC unit at North Carolina State. He also served as the Executive Officer, Marine Week, CORTRAMID East in 2005 and commanded Golf Company, Officer Candidates School in the summer of 2006 before being selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in July of 2007.
Upon completion of the School of Advanced Warfighting in June of 2009, Colonel Canfield returned to the Second Marine Division where he served as the Division’s Training Officer prior to assuming command of First Battalion, Eighth Marines. After completing the U.S. Army War College in June of 2012, Colonel Canfield reported to U.S. Northern Command where he served as the J552 Special Plans Branch Chief from 2012-2015. In June of 2015, Colonel Canfield was reassigned to Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) where he served as the AC/S G-8 responsible for future capabilities, programming, and combat development.
Colonel Canfield participated in operations UPHOLD/SUPPORT DEMOCRACY in Haiti 1994, STRONG RESOLVE in Norway 1995, ASSURED RESPONSE in Monrovia, Liberia 1996, ENDURING FREEDOM in the Arabian Gulf 2002, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003, and ENDURING FREEDOM in northern Helmand 2010-2011. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat V (gold star), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon (two gold stars), and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Colonel Canfield is a distinguished graduate of The Basic School, the Amphibious Warfare School, and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He also graduated from the School of Advanced Warfighting, the U.S. Army War College, and North Carolina State University where he obtained a Master of Arts in History.