LTC Clayton Merkley

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

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. He 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 in Fort Bliss, Texas. 

Following that experience, LTC Merkley earned his master's in Slavic cultures from Columbia University (2015) before teaching at his alma mater, USMA. 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 BN S-4), Afghanistan (2013 as an advisor to the Afghan National Army), and Afghanistan (2018-2019 as a member of HQ, Resolute Support Mission Afghanistan). 

LTC Merkley's awards and decorations include: Combat Action Badge; Air Assault Badge; Army Parachutist's Badge; Bronze Star (2 OLC); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC); Joint and Army Commendation Medals and the Army Achievement Medal.