Lieutenant Colonel Ankney is a native of Colstrip, Montana. He graduated from Montana State University-Bozeman and was commissioned in May 2003. After completing the Basic Officer Course and Infantry Officer Course, he reported to 3d Battalion, 3d Marines in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon Commander, and Weapons Company Executive Officer. During this time, Lieutenant Colonel Ankney deployed to Kunar Province, Afghanistan, and Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
In June 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Ankney joined 3d Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company in Norfolk, Virginia. As a Platoon Commander, he forward deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Bahrain. In May 2009, he was reassigned to 1st Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company where he served as Commanding Officer and Company Executive Officer. In response to the Haiti earthquake in 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Ankney deployed as the platoon commander of the Alert Contingency Platoon to reinforce the American Embassy.
After graduating from Expeditionary Warfare School in May 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Ankney was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in Twentynine Palms, California. From June 2011 to May 2015, he served as a Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer where he deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in March 2012 and March 2014.
From June 2015 to June 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Ankney served as the Commanding Officer, Recruiting Station Salt Lake City, Utah. Following successful completion of this tour, he reported to Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, where he graduated from both the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting. Upon graduation from the School of Advanced Warfighting in June 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Ankney joined II Marine Expeditionary Force (G-5) as an operational planner. In August 2021, he deployed to Europe in support of US Naval Force Europe-Africa. Upon his redeployment, he remained within the G-5 until his current assignment as the Inspector-Instructor, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines.
Lieutenant Colonel Ankney holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University-Bozeman, a Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University, and a Master of Operational Studies from Marine Corps University.