National Guard
Brigadier General Christopher M. Burns
  
Commander, Special Operations Command, NORTH
Peterson AFB, CO
Since: July 2016
Official Photo
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of Connecticut - BA - Economics and Political Science
Western Connecticut State University - MBA - Business Administration
United States Army War College - MSS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Army Senior Leader Development Program-Basic (ASLDP-B)
CAPSTONE
United States Army War College
Force Integration Course for Senior Leaders (FISCL)
Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Syracuse University, National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S) None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT
2LT 14 Jan 87
1LT 13 Jan 90
CPT 10 Jun 92
MAJ 12 Oct 00
LTC 9 Feb 05
COL 29 Dec 10
BG 8 Jan 14

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT
Jul 16 Present Commander, Special Operations Command, NORTH, Peterson AFB, Colorado
Sep 14 Jul 16 Assistant Commanding General, Special Operations Command Central, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
Dec 13 Aug 14 Assistant Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command, Washington, District of Columbia
May 13 Nov 13 J7 Director, Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
Apr 10 May 13 Commander, Special Operations Detachment-Global, Coventry, Rhode Island; dual-hatted April 2010 - May 2011, Current Special Operations Officer, Deputy Directorate for Special Operations and Counterterrorism Operations Directorate, the Joint Staff, Washington, District of Columbia
Mar 09 Apr 10 Current Operations Officer, Special Operations Detachment-Global, Camp Fogarty, Rhode Island; dual-hatted: January 2010 - March 2010, Operations Officer, Special Operations Command - Korea, Camp Kim, Republic of South Korea
Apr 08 Mar 09 Rear Detachment Commander, Special Operations Detachment - Global, Coventry Air Force Base, Rhode Island
Jun 05 Mar 08 Current Operations Officer, Special Operations Detachment - Global, Camp Fogarty, Rhode Island
Jun 04 May 05 Future Plans Director, Joint Special Operations Task Force - Horn of Africa, Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti
Oct 03 May 04 Acting Brigade S-3, 56th Troop Command, Camp Fogarty, Rhode Island
Oct 02 Sep 03 Assistant S-3/Battalion Executive Officer 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Kenova, West Virginia
Nov 01 Sep 02 Battalion Executive Officer, 2/19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Operation Enduring Freedom, Kabul, Afghanistan
Apr 00 Nov 01 Commander, Officer Candidate School Headquarters 243rd Regional Training Institute, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Sep 93 Apr 00 Detachment Commander, Operational Detachment Alpha 944 (Military Free Fall) 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group (ABN) Middletown, Rhode Island
Dec 88 Sep 93 Detachment Operations Officer, Operational Detachment Alpha 944 (Military Free Fall) 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group (ABN) Middletown, Rhode Island
Jan 87 Dec 88 Executive Officer, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 192 Field Artillery, 26th Infantry Division Danbury, Connecticut

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Commander, Special Operations Command, NORTH, Peterson AFB, Colorado Jul 16 - Present Brigadier General
Assistant Commanding General, Special Operations Command Central, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida Sep 14 - Jul 16 Brigadier General
Assistant Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command, Washington, District of Columbia Dec 13 - Aug 14 Brigadier General
Commander, Special Operations Detachment-Global, Coventry, Rhode Island; dual-hatted April 2010 - May 2011, Current Special Operations Officer, Deputy Directorate for Special Operations and Counterterrorism Operations Directorate, the Joint Staff, Washington, District of Columbia Apr 10 - May 13 Colonel
Current Operations Officer, Special Operations Detachment-Global, Camp Fogarty, Rhode Island; dual-hatted: January 2010 - March 2010, Operations Officer, Special Operations Command - Korea, Camp Kim, Republic of South Korea Mar 09 - Apr 10 Lieutenant Colonel

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
J7 Director, Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan May 13 - Nov 13 Colonel
Future Plans Director, Joint Special Operations Task Force - Horn of Africa, Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti Jun 04 - May 05 Lieutenant Colonel
Battalion Executive Officer, 2/19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Operation Enduring Freedom, Kabul, Afghanistan Nov 01 - Sep 02 Major

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Defense Superior Service Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass with "M" Deviceand Numeral 2)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 7)
Combat Infantry Badge
Senior Parachutist Badge
Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
National Guard Association of the United States
Special Forces Association (Life Member)

 

 

As of: 3 May 18

 

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.

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