COL Way was commissioned through the Army Officer Candidate School as a Transportation Officer in January 2003. He is a native of West Columbia, SC and graduated from South Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. He is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College. He holds a Master of Art degree in Transportation and Logistics Management from American Military University and a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.
COL Way’s commands include: 839th Transportation Battalion, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command responsible for strategic surface movements in Southern Europe and Africa 2021-2023; andAlpha Company, 26th BSB, 2nd BCT, 3ID and led the company through a 15-month surge deployment to Iraq in 2007-2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
COL Way has served in various staff positions at the tactical, operational and strategic level. Notably, he served as Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment; Executive Officer to the HQDA G-9 Director for Operations; and Chief of the Logistics Data & Visualization Division Joint Staff Logistics Directorate (J-4) in the Pentagon, Washington D.C. He served as the Brigade Operations Officer and Support Operations Officer (SPO) for the 404th Army Field
Support Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), WA. He served as the SPO and Battalion Executive Officer for 46th Aviation Support Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, JBLM, WA. He served as the Brigade Support Battalion SPO Observer, Coach, Trainer (OC/T), A.K.A…Goldminer 05 and Combat Sustainment Support Battalion OC/T at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA. He has VA and the Army Logistics University at Fort Lee, VA.
COL Way’s deployments include two tours to OIF, Iraq; Operation New Dawn, Kuwait; and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.
COL Way’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge. Awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Christopher by the Transportation Regimental Association.
He has five daughters: Avioana (27), Carrie (24), Gabrielle (19), Danica (16), and Maya (7)