COL Malcolm Haynes was commissioned as an Armor Officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1998. A recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship award, COL Haynes spent the first two years after commissioning earning a master's degree in computer science at the University of Texas at Austin. Subsequently, COL Haynes was assigned as a tank platoon leader in 1-12 CAV. COL Haynes then went on to serve as the company commander of Eagle Troop, 2-2 ACR and Alpha Company, 2-23 IN. He deployed to Iraq as part of the surge from 2007-2008 where he received an ARCOM with Valor for actions in and around Khalis, Iraq when he was serving as a military transition team chief. Upon return, COL Haynes went to the School of Advanced Military Studies and served as a maneuver planner in III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas where he deployed to Afghanistan. COL  Haynes was then selected to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology where he received a PhD in computer science. Since 2017, COL Haynes has served at the United States Military Academy as an assistant professor.

COL Haynes' is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, Cavalry Leaders Course, Infantry Captains Career Course, Combined Arms Staff Services School, Intermediate Level Education, School of Advanced Military Studies, Air Assault School, Airborne School, and Ranger School.