James McCann

Bio

James McCann is a native of Frederick County, Virginia. He enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Combat Documentation / Production Specialist after graduating high school in 2011. After completing Initial Entry Training, he was assigned to the 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) at Fort George G. Meade, Md. While there, he produced visual information products for multiple events and missions including the 2014 Army Warrior Trials. He also documented task force training exercises of the 75th Ranger Regiment’s 1st and 3rd Battalions, the 25th Infantry Division’s Tropic Lightning Academy and Jungle Operations School.

From January to November of 2013, he deployed in support of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan where he worked directly with Afghan National Army Commandos and several Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha teams.

McCann returned to 55th at the rank of Spc. and continued to be entrusted with more responsibility above his pay grade, serving as a team and then squad leader. He was selected to attend both the Intermediate Video Course and Intermediate Photography Course at the Defense Information School to raise his technical proficiency and help better aid him to train his Soldiers. After demonstrating continual leadership potential, he was promoted to Sergeant on May 1, 2015. In July of the same year, he was the sole Army photographer selected to attend the Syracuse University Military Visual Journalism Program and was reassigned to the U.S. Army student Detachment in August of 2015.

He will complete the Military Photojournalism Program in May of 2016

McCann has been married to his high school sweetheart, Hannah, for 4 years.