Canadian Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard, right, announces the deaths of two U.S. soldiers under his command at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan on Wednesday. (Colin Perkel/Canadian Press)

U.S. military officials have released the names of two U.S. soldiers who died while serving under Canadian command in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Capt. Paul Pena, 27, and Tech Sgt. Adam Ginett, 29, were killed by an improvised explosive device, or IED, on Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Defence has confirmed. They were on a joint patrol with the Afghan National Army foot patrol in the dangerous Arghandab district of Kandahar province when the device exploded.

Both men were members of the 2nd Battalion, 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Pena was "a recognized leader" and "the quiet professional who was admired and respected by his soldiers," said Brig. Gen. Dan Menard, the Canadian commander of Task Force Afghanistan.

Ginett, Menard said, was "a dedicated soldier and team player" whose "knowledge and professionalism were constant and source of strength for those around him."

"Their loss will be mourned by Americans, Canadians and the Afghans they served with," said Menard. "We will remember their sacrifice.”