LTC Clayton Merkley

LTC Clayton Merkley is an instructor in the Department of English and World Languages at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He also serves as director of the Center for Languages, Cultures, and Regional Studies.

He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in international and strategic studies and Russian. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Armor branch in May 2007 and served with the 1st Armored Division in Germany for his first assignment. Later, he commanded an M1A2 tank company as part of the 1st Armored Division, now at Fort Bliss, Texas.

LTC Merkley earned a Master of Arts in Slavic cultures from Columbia University in 2015 before returning to teach at his alma mater. He became an Army strategist, functional area 59, and served as chief of plans with both the 4th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force–North.

He has deployed four times: Iraq (2008–09 as a platoon leader), Iraq (2012 as a battalion S4), Afghanistan (2013 as an advisor to the Afghan National Army), and Afghanistan (2018–19 as a member of headquarters, Resolute Support Mission Afghanistan).

LTC Merkley's awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint and Army Commendation Medals, and the Army Achievement Medal.