Community Corner

United States Army Captain, Foothill High Graduate Welcomed Home

United States Army Captain Nicholas Kanakis welcomed home to Tri-Valley

Information provided by the Pleasanton Military Families—

Nicholas Kanakis is a product of Pleasanton schools having attended Donlon Elementary, Pleasanton Middle School, and Foothill High School (class of 2003) where he was a member of the varsity football and wrestling teams. Nicholas received a nomination from Senator Barbara Boxer to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2005. 

Nicholas’ passion from the time he was at Donlon was to become a military aviator. During his time at West Point, he pursued his love of flying and was cadet-in-charge of the Flying Club. Nicholas received the Nye Award for Excellence in Research in Military Affairs for his work on the influence of West Point cadets on Army Aviation. He graduated from West Point in 2009 as a military history major and branched Army Aviation. 

After receiving his wings at Ft. Rucker, Alabama in February, 2011, Nicholas joined Alpha Co. 4-3 Assault Helicopter Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia as a Blackhawk flight platoon leader. From December, 2012 through August, 2013, Nicholas was deployed with the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. He served there as a Maintenance Platoon Leader and Blackhawk helicopter pilot-in-command. Nicholas will return to Ft. Rucker this December to attend the Captains’ Career Course.

Click here for the full slideshow of the homecoming in Pleasanton.


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