Prior to becoming a Senior Fellow, Cannon served as director of government affairs, managing the NCPA's Washington, D.C. office, including representing the organization before the Bush administration, on Capitol Hill, and by serving as a liaison to other think tanks, trade groups and policy organizations.
Cannon frequently has appeared as guest expert on a variety of national television and radio current affairs programs, including CNN, C-Span and the Fox News Channel, and is often consulted as an expert by newspaper and policy newsletter reporters and editors.
He served as a domestic policy analyst for the U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee, chaired by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID). In this role he was responsible for formulating policy and counseling Senators on health care, education, labor, welfare and Second Amendment legislation. He also assisted in devising, coordinating and implementing Senate floor strategy.
For four years ending in 1998, Cannon was a health care policy analyst with Citizens for a Sound Economy, where he was responsible for educating Members of Congress and congressional staff.
Cannon received a Bachelor of Arts in American Government from the University of Virginia.