U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Christian has been in the United States Marine Corps for over twenty five years.  He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1989 and was assigned as an Infantryman in 2^nd Battalion, Third Marines.  

He deployed as a squad leader in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and upon his return successfully completed the Force Reconnaissance screening and selection process.  In 1992 he was assigned as an assistant team leader with 3^rd Reconnaissance Battalion and completed two deployments in the Pacific theatre.   In 1994 Sergeant Christian reported for duty with 2^nd Force Reconnaissance Company in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  He completed two deployments with the Force Reconnaissance Detachment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and participated in Operation Sliver Wake in Albania and Operation Guardian Retrieval in Zaire, Africa.

In 1997 Sergeant Christian was selected for meritorious commissioning and was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant.  He graduated as the honor graduate from Officers Candidate School and was selected as the Major General Wheeler award recipient while attending the Infantry Officers Course in Quantico, Virginia.  In 1998 1^st Lieutenant Christian reported to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for duty with 1^st Battalion, Eighth Marines.  He participated in two deployments with the 22^nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and filled the billets of Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer. 

 In 2001 Captain Christian reported for duty as a Platoon Commander with 6^th Platoon, 2^nd Force Reconnaissance Company and was attached to the 26^th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and directly supported Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force North during combat operations in Mosul, Iraq.   In 2002 Captain Christian deployed to Liberia, Africa where he conducted combined joint peace keeping operations with Joint Task Force Liberia.

In 2004 Captain Christian received orders to be a military advisor in Karbala, Iraq and spent one year combat advising Iraqi forces while assigned to the 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 4^th Infantry Division, United States Army.  In 2006 Captain Christian was promoted to Major and reported for duty with 1^st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in Camp Pendleton, California.   In 2007 Major Christian deployed to Afghanistan for duty as the J-35 Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan.   In 2007 he was selected to command Alpha Company, 1^st Marine Special Operations Battalion and conducted two deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

In 2012 Major Christian reported to Coronado, California for duty as the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command liaison officer to the Naval Special Warfare Command.  In 2014 Major Christian was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was selected to lead the first United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Special Operations Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE) during a proof of concept deployment with the 11^th Marine Expeditionary Unit.   

Lieutenant Colonel Christian’s personal awards include the Navy Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device and one Gold Star in lieu of second award, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device and two Gold Stars in lieu of third award, the Combat Action Ribbon with two Gold Stars in lieu of 3rd award.  He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.