Daniel Fairbanks Cady

Daniel Fairbanks Cady (Chief Petty Officer US Navy, Ret.) of Fort Mill, South Carolina, died on September 5, 2023. Born in Marietta, Georgia, on January 26, 1979, he was the son of Donald Fairbanks and Joan Marsch Cady of Fort Myers, Florida and Narragansett, Rhode Island. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth J. Cady of Fort Mill, South Carolina.

In addition to his parents he is survived by brothers, Malcolm Fairbanks Cady and wife Casey Michelle Cady of Raleigh, North Carolina; Alexander Fairbanks Cady and wife Arati Patel Cady of St. Augustine, Florida; and former wife, Danielle Cady and beloved dog Scooter of Raleigh, North Carolina. He leaves behind his adored nieces, nephew and step children, Asha Mani Cady, Nova Fairbanks Cady, Dexter Fairbanks Cady, Ethan Joseph Kandle and Penny Jean Kandle.

As a youth Dan earned the rank of Eagle Scout. A native of Marietta, Georgia, he graduated from Lassiter High School in June of 1997 and directly entered the U.S. Navy, attending basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes. After further training at the Center for Information Dominance, where he graduated 2nd in his class, his first duty assignment was aboard the USS John C. Stennis CVN 74, on which he completed two WestPac deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch.

He then completed a number of operational tours as an intelligence and geospatial analyst within the Naval Special Warfare community to include SEAL Team Five and the Mission Support Center (NSWG1). There he deployed in 2003 to Baghdad, Iraq as part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP).

Dan's next assignment was to the US Embassy Tokyo, Japan, serving three years as Operations Manager Asst., Defense Attaché Office. A follow on assignment to Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Five (MSRON 5) led to multiple deployments to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2008 Dan was promoted to Chief Petty Officer after a "very short period of service."

In 2010 he was assigned as the sole Intelligence Advisor within a Naval Forces Stability Transition Team to assist, train, and advise the 4th Iraqi Army Division in Tikrit, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thereafter he again returned to the Naval Special Warfare community in San Diego, this time as Lead Chief Petty Officer, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, where he completed multiple overseas deployments in the Pacific.

After a deployment to Europe as Lead Chief Petty Officer at NATO Allied Marine Command, Norwood, United Kingdom, Dan's last assignment before retiring in 2021 was as Operations Manager Asst., Defense Attaché Office, US Embassy Lima, Peru.

During his Navy career of over 22 years Dan was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (counterpart of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in a combat zone), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), Army Achievement Medal, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, and Expeditionary Warfare Specialist.

Dan lived life to the fullest, finding laughter and joy in every day. With a heart for charity he would give generously to those in need. Among his greatest joys in life were laughing with his nieces and nephew, taking photographs, traveling, eating good food and spending time with friends he called family. Dan was a loving and generous son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, step-father, husband and a faithful shipmate. He will be greatly missed.