Rensselaer Resident Elsa Canales gets promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard

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Lt. Col. Elsa Canales

LATHAM, NY (03/08/2024) (readMedia)-- Elsa Canales, a Rensselaer resident, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard during a March 6, 2024, promotion ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.

The promotion occurred during a ceremony at the New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.

Army National Guard Col. Patrick Clare, the New York Army National Guard Chief of Staff and Commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade presided over the ceremony and praised Canales during his remarks.

"She has excelled and worked hard at every position she has had in this organization and will continue to accomplish many great tasks," Clare said.

"She has held numerous logistic positions within this organization and always has had great success," he added.

In her remarks, Canales said she was grateful for the mentorship she received from leaders throughout her career and for the hardworking Soldiers she has worked with.

Canales will be assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade as the support operations officer.

There, she will manage and support all logistics, supply, and maintenance elements of the brigade. During her career, Canales deployed to Kuwait twice. In 2023 she deployed to Grafenwoehr, Germany to help train Ukrainian soldiers.

Canales joined the New York Army National Guard in 2005. Since then, she has held multiple logistics positions within the 42nd Infantry Division and 53rd Troop Command.

Canales earned her commission in 2009 from the Reserve Officer's Training Corps at Stony Brook University, where she received her bachelor's degree in business management. She also received a master's in military science in Strategic Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

She is also a graduate of the Quartermaster Basic Officer Leader Course, Multifunctional Logistics Captains Career Course, and Command and General Staff College from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Fort Moore, Georgia.

Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Force, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device.