Melissa Canizales

Oversee risk management strategies, mitigating potential threats to the organization''s stability and reputation. Established strong relationships with key stakeholders to enhance collaboration and drive unit success. Lead organizational restructuring efforts, optimizing resource allocation and improving overall productivity. Handle administrative management, personnel issues and supply requirements for unit.

As the Communications Officer where she completed the Non-Standard Communications Course, and SERE training. Maj Canizales supported four Marine Special Operations Companies and has developed and implemented an Information System Security Program and Policy. In coordination with MARSOC Combat Development and Integration branch and Cyberspace cell, she provides Marine Special Operations Teams with access to equipment and software to stay competitive in Greater Power Competition. In March 2020 she completed the Naval Post Graduate Cyber Security Fundamentals, enhancing her implementation of cyber security at the Battalion level. She also completed the Raider Information Operations Course and obtained the CompTIA Cyber Security Analyst certification. Additionally, in coordination with supported Theater Special Operation Commands, she advised teams and companies on non-standard communications planning, where logistics and transport are limited. In May 2021 Maj Canizales is served as the Signals Center Director for the Battalion Special Operations Task Force. In January 2022 Maj Canizales served in Marine Special Operations Company Mike Communications Officer deploying to Iraq in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. In October 2022 Maj Canizales served in the MARSOC G-6 as the future operations officer, facilitating the communications planning for the Joint Task Force Indo PACOM, validating the need for a communications planner organic to the staff.

She managed two enterprise level networks in support of simulated exercises for Ground Combat Element Operations Tactics Instructors and Intelligence Tactics Instructors for the entire Marine Corps. With the range of units participating, friendly and coalition, interoperability was a key capability she employed in network services. She also provided advisement to the communications specific considerations to ensure operations and intelligence were appropriately planning for effective command and control. In March 2018, Maj Canizales completed National Outdoor Leadership School Marine Corps pilot program that was focused on navigation in a communication denied and degraded environment. Located in Utah, the twelve-day pilot course involved a 65 Kilometer ruck utilizing terrain association and maps in place of GPS navigation. This pilot course, coupled with her education in Space Operations have allowed her to refine communication security variables and advise on signature management, risk to mission, and the employment of mitigating tactics to improve communications in a denied environment.

• As the Battalion Communications Officer she planned and executed communications architectures at BALIKATAN (Philippines), COBRA GOLD (Thailand), TALISMAN SABRE (Australia), WINTER WORK HORSE (Korea), and Combat Logistics Detachments throughout Indo Pacific Command. Services and communication architectures extended between Combat Service Support Areas, Maritime Preposition Force, Landing Force Support Party, Port Operations Group, Beach Operational Group, Rail Operational Group, and Combat Operation Centers (COC), both mobile and static.

Attended Officer Candidate School and The Basic School to develop Infantry Platoon Commander skills, Leadership, and role as the Officer in Charge.