Mr. Stephen Cannon, U.S. Army

Stephen Cannon

U.S. Army 

Inducted 2023

Steve Cannon was born Feb 10, 1961 in Patterson, New Jersey.  He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1986 with a Bachelors degree in economics and was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer. He graduated from Ranger School and BOLC before being assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment along the West German-Czech border. After serving 5 years as a Field Artilleryman, he left the military to pursue a career in Business. He began that career in the automotive industry as the assistant to the President and CEO of Mercedes Benz North America. He moved to Germany and became the first American to join the team tasked with the design, development, production, and launch of the M Class, which would be the first Mercedes-Benz series to be manufactured in the United States. After the successful launch of the M Class, Cannon became Director of Marketing for Debis Financial Services and later served as the principal for The Richards Group. Cannon returned to Mercedes-Benz USA in 2007 as Chief Marketing Officer where he and his team moved the brand into some of the most prestigious platforms in sports, including The Masters, The U.S. Open tennis tournament and the PGA Championship. In 2011, Cannon was named CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, becoming only the second American to lead the company. In 2015, he was named CEO of AMB Group, LLC, where he oversees the day-to-day leadership of the NFL Atlanta Falcons, MLS Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PGA TOUR Superstore, and Mountain Sky Guest Ranch.  In 2018, Cannon and Falcons coach, Dan Quinn, led the first NFL team directed USO Tour, visiting soldiers at various bases throughout Iraq and Kuwait and coordinated trips for the Falcons to experience and interact with soldiers at West Point, Fort Benning and Fort Stewart. In 2020, Cannon was the recipient of the NFL’s Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. Cannon serves on the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s Board of Directors, as well as the national Board of Directors for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).