Rear Adm. Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in naval engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., as well as a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in Omaha, Neb. He attended the Senior Executive Program in National Security at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. 

Over the course of his 30-plus years on active duty in the U.S. Navy, Buchanan served as the Commanding Officer of USS PARCHE (SSN-683); Executive Assistant to the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command; and as Commander of Submarine Force 7th Fleet, Commander Task Force 74, and Commander Submarine Group 7. In flag officer assignments, he served as Chief, Strategic Submarine and Maintenance Division (OPNAV N871); Commander, Submarine Group 2; and Director, Operations and Logistics, U.S. Strategic Command. 

Private-sector roles included as a Senior Executive Service serving as Director Strategic Planning for the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA); Vice President Corporate Services for First National Bank of Omaha; Area Program Manager with EDS for Navy Marine Corps Intranet; Vice President of Integrated Undersea Systems for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems; President of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C.; and President of the Gettysburg Foundation. 

Buchanan currently serves as a Director and Secretary of the Government Security Committee for Wartsila Defense Inc. of Chesapeake, Va. He is on the Advisory Council of ThanksUSA, a nonprofit organization providing scholarships to military spouses and children. He is also a trustee with the Athletics & Scholarship Program of the Naval Academy Foundation. He also serves on the Service Academy Selection Board for the 16th congressional district of the State of Florida. He is the Employment Pillar Chairman for the Sarasota and Manatee County Mission United under the auspices of Sun Coast United Way.