Lieutenant Colonel Cardona was born in Manhattan, Kansas on February 10, 1984. He reported to Officer Candidates Course 197, Officer Candidates School, in January 2008. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on March 28, 2008. Second Lieutenant Cardona was then ordered to attend The Basic School beginning April 18, 2008. He graduated in November 2008.
In December 2008, Second Lieutenant Cardona was ordered to serve with MASS-1 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. He then attended Air Support Control Officer Course in January of 2009 at MCAGCC/MAGTFTC Twentynine Palms, California earning his Tactical Air Director and Helicopter Director initial qualifications.
In April 2009, he deployed to the Tactical Base Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as an Air Support Control Officer in the Direct Air Support Center (DASC). He returned home to the unit in November 2009.
First Lieutenant Cardona was then ordered to report to VMU-2 in July of 2010. In October 2010, he deployed to the Tactical Bases Leatherneck and Dwyer in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as a Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Detachment Officer in Charge (OIC). He returned home with the unit in May 2011. Upon return he served as the Ground Training Officer, Future Operations Officer, and the Assistant Operations Officer. He then graduated the Unmanned Aircraft Commander (UAC) Course on 26 August 2011 gaining the qualification to fly the Shadow V1 UAS.
Captain Cardona deployed again in April 2012 with VMU-2 to the Tactical Bases Leatherneck, Dwyer, Shukvani, Edinburgh, and Delaram in Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as the Operations Officer forward and as a Shadow UAC. Captain Cardona was selected on the first 7315 transition board in September 2012. He returned home with the unit in November 2012. He then attended the WTI 2-13 course and successfully graduated on 28 April 2013. Captain Cardona then served as the squadron Pilot Training Officer (PTO).
In April 2014 Captain Cardona was ordered to the 558th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) aboard Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for attendance in Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Screening Course. In November 2014, he would complete his training and be further ordered to serve with Combat Development and Integration (CD&I), Combat Development Directorate (CDD), Fires and Maneuver Integration Division (FMID), UAS Cell. During his tour at CD&I he worked to develop the Marine Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA).
Captain Cardona was then ordered to the Expeditionary Warfare School resident course in August 2015 and graduated May of 2016. He was then ordered to report back to CD&I, CDD, in the Information Warfare Integration Division (IWID). During his tour at CD&I he was responsible for creating and implementing an electronic warfare training course for 7315 UACs at the 558th FTS as well as generating the updated concept for Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations. In June 2017 Captain Cardona was ordered to report to VMU-3 aboard MCB Hawaii Kaneohe Bay.
While at VMU-3, he served as the Quality Assurance Officer, PTO, and Operations Officer. In Oct 2017 he attended the RQ-7B v2 mobile training team gaining a certification to fly the RQ-7B v2 aircraft. In April 2018 Major Cardona completed the RQ-21A UAC course at the RQ-21A Fleet Replacement Detachment (FRD) aboard MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina gaining the certification to fly the RQ-21A aircraft. Captain Cardona also completed the Fleet Replacement Instructor Course following graduation receiving a Fleet Replacement Instructor qualification. He was promoted to Major in February 2018. In February 2019 Major Cardona gained a Weapons Training Officer (WTO) certification for the RQ-21A Blackjack. Major Cardona was then ordered to report to MAWTS-1 in August 2020. At MAWTS-1 Major Cardona served as a UAS instructor pilot for the RQ-21A Blackjack and the MQ-9A Reaper. He also served as the UAS Division Head. In February of 2022 Maj Cardona attended the MQ-9A Flying Training Unit at Holloman AFB, NM gaining his qualification in the MQ-9A Reaper. In May of 2023 Major Cardona was frocked to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In June of 2023 Lieutenant Colonel Cardona assumed duties as the MAWTS-1 Executive Officer. He has accumulated over 800 flight hours as a UAC.
Lieutenant Colonel Cardona’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of fourth award and various unit and campaign awards.