Andrew Canning spent over 33 years as an officer in the Royal Marines, serving worldwide and in various well-documented conflicts. During that time, he also worked with other Government departments including DfID and the FCO. He led the British military operation in Mozambique to provide rescue, recovery and relief operations following catastrophic floods in the country in 2000, all under DfID direction. He spent 3.5 years as the defence attaché to Norway, working directly for two ambassadors in-country, advising on military capabilities and perceived military threats to Norway from abroad. Andrew was awarded an OBE in 2000 for his services to the development of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, based on his operational and diplomatic deployments to West and Southern Africa to effect and promote FCO policies through the military. Andrew played his part in the war zones of Sierra Leone (four times), and was instrumental in the evacuation of British citizens from Sierra Leone to Senegal in 2001.
On leaving the Royal Marines, Andrew organised and managed a specialist training and mentoring programme delivered to the Afghan Police and Army, on a civilian contract let by the United States government.