Colonel Melissa “Misty” Cantwell is a native of Trenton, New Jersey and was commissioned into the Military Police Corps after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2002. Her last assignment was Deputy Chief of Staff for the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York.
Other past assignments include Corps Support Military Police Platoon Leader at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Law Enforcement Detachment Commander at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, CID Group Operations Officer at Hunter Army Airfield, and CID Battalion Commander at Joint Base Lewis McChord. She completed five combat deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Resolute Support, and Inherent Resolve.
Colonel Cantwell also served as an Afghan Army Detention and Corrections Advisor in Kabul, Afghanistan, a Protection Planner for 2ID at Camp Red Cloud, Korea, the Chief of Plans for 7ID at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Director of the Commander’s Action Group for Operation Inherent Resolve in Baghdad, Iraq.
Colonel Cantwell is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies, and the National War College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in military science from West Point, Master of Military Arts and Science from both the Marine Corps and Army, and a Master’s in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University, as well as a graduate certificate in Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University. Her military schools include Special Reaction Team Training, the Defense Strategy Course, and the Special Tactical Operations Planning Course.
Colonel Cantwell has earned the Combat Action Badge and the Army Parachutist Badge.
Misty is an avid traveler and volunteer.