Lieutenant Colonel Christopher P. O’Connor

As the son of a career military officer, Lieutenant Colonel O’Connor has lived many places. Completing his under-graduate at Slippery Rock University 1994, he earned a degree in Geology. In August of 1995, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Officer Combined Course (OCC) program at Officer Candidate School (OCS).

Upon graduation from The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course in 1996, Lieutenant O’Connor was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines in Camp Lejeune North Carolina. During this tour, he held the billets of Rifle Platoon Commander and Weapons Platoon Commander. His deployments during this tour included participation in Operations Pacific Haven in Guam, USA as part of the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa, Japan and Operation Noble Anvil in Albania as part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

In 1999, Lieutenant O’Connor was transferred to the 4th Marine Corps Recruiting District in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, promoted, and assigned the duties as an Officer Selection Officer. In August 2002, Captain O’Connor attended The Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia.

In July 2003, Captain O’Connor reported to 3d Battalion, 6th Marines where he served as a Rifle Company Commander and Battalion Operations Officer. As a Rifle Company Commander, Captain O’Connor deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. While serving as the Battalion Operations Officer, Captain O’Connor was promoted and shortly thereafter deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 4-6 and 5-7.

In 2006, following his duties with 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, Major O’Connor was transferred to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, Special Operations Training Group where he served as Assistant Operations Officer, Group Chief Instructor, the International Training Branch Officer in Charge and the Amphibious Raids Branch Officer in Charge. Upon completion of his duties in 2009 with II Marine Expeditionary Forces, Major O’Connor reported to Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia where he earned a Masters Degree in Military Studies and graduated with Distinguished Honors.

Upon graduation from Command and Staff College, Major O’Connor was sent to Afghanistan for 1 year to serve as the Operational Planner to the Commander International Security Forces Afghanistan (COMISAF)/Command United States Forces-Afghanistan (COMUSFOR-A). Following completion of these duties in June 2011, Major O’Connor returned to Quantico to serve at The Basic School as the Director of Warfighting. While serving at The Basic School, Major O’Connor was selected to command 1st Battalion 3d Marines and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

Lieutenant Colonel O’Connor’s personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars in lieu of third award, and the Combat Action Ribbon with 1 gold star in lieu of second award.