Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Johnson is a native of The Dalles, OR. He was commissioned and Ensign through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in May 2004 with a major in Political Science and a minor in Naval Science from the University of Idaho. Lieutenant Colonel Johnson reported to Pensacola Naval Air Station in June 2004 and following successful completion of the Introductory Flight Screening Program in November 2004, was assigned to the Air Preflight Indoctrination Course. Due to a force reduction taking place in early 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was discharged from active duty and assigned to the Navy IRR in May 2005. Completing an inter-service transfer to the Marine Corps in August 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson completed The Basic School in July 2008. In August 2008 Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was assigned to Ft. Knox, KY and completed the Armored Basic Officers Leadership Course III in December 2008.
Following armor school, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was assigned to Co B, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th MARDIV in Yakima, WA and began Intermediate Location Training in preparation for the company’s deployment in support of OIF 9.1. In April 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson deployed to Al-Anbar Province, Iraq as 3rd Platoon Commander, 4th Tank Battalion, RCT-8, II MEF (Fwd). Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was additionally charged as acting company executive officer. Following the company’s return from Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson participated in Exercise STEEL KNIGHT 2009 as an Operator-Controller aboard MCAGCC 29 Palms. Following his return, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was assigned as the Executive Officer of Co B, 4th Tank Battalion.
In March 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson reported to Deployment Processing Command/Reserve Support Unit-East in preparation for deployment in support of OEF 11. After completion of training, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson reported to the NATO Training Mission’s Afghan National Army Development Directorate aboard Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan where he was assigned as the Advisor to the Chief of Staff for ANA-Development. Following his return from Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson returned to Co B, 4th Tank Battalion and resumed his duties as Company Executive Officer.
In July 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Co B, 4th Tank Battalion. During his tenure, the company was designated as the deployment ready company following successful completion of amphibious landing training in 2014 and successful completion of ITX 4-15. Following his successful command tour, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was assigned to H&S Co, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th MARDIV as the Assistant Operations Officer in July 2015 and then as the Operations Officer in October 2015. As Operations Officer of 4th Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson revitalized the training program for the entire battalion with a focus on battalion-level, combined arms armored operations.
From Sep – Oct 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was attached to the Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and attended the Operations and Tactics Instructor – Officers course aboard MCAGCC 29 Palms. Upon successfully graduating the course, he earned the AMOS of 0577; Operations and Tactics Instructor – Officer.
In November 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was selected to lead the MARCENT Security Cooperation Team (SCT) 19.2 rotation. Lieutenant Colonel Johnson and his team reported to the Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group aboard Ft. Story, VA. for participation in the Marine Advisor Course. After successful completion, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson earned the FMOS of 0570; Foreign Security Force Advisor. Based in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson’s team participated in numerous multi-national, joint/coalition exercises including Exercise EAGER LION 19 and Exercise OLIVE GROVE 19. Working with the Jordanian Quick Reaction Force Brigade and 77th Royal Jordanian Marine Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson’s team instituted a number of long sought-after initiatives including a Marksmanship Program and NCO Development Course. Following successful completion of his tour, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was awarded the FMOS of 0571; FSF Operational Advisor.
In April 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson transferred to the Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group aboard Ft. Story, VA as an instructor in the CENTCOM Regional Section. During his time with MCSCG, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson led a team from the Assessments Branch to assess the combined arms capabilities of the Jordanian Quick Reaction Force Brigade and 77th Royal Jordanian Marine Battalion. His teams’ efforts aided in closing out the Security Cooperation Team mission in Jordan.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnson transferred to the Joint Staff in September 2021 and was assigned to the Joint Staff J6 as a Joint Operations Support Officer and subsequently to the J7 as a Military Information Support Officer. During his time with the Joint Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson participated in Exercise VIKING 22 (Sweden) and Exercise BOLD QUEST 22 (Ft. Stewart, GA). Both exercises integrated joint, and coalition partners into strategic-level events testing the limits of allied/partner cooperation and technological enhancements to maneuver forces. In March 2023 Lieutenant Colonel Johnson reported to the Pentagon to support the Ukraine/Russia Crisis Management Team.
Following his successful tour on the Joint Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson reported to Marine Corps Advisor Company-Bravo in May 2023 where he served as the Operations Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnson assumed command of 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion on July 28, 2024.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnson is a Distinguished Graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College Distance Education Programs. He is also privileged to share in the awarding of unit and campaign awards with the Marines and Joint members he has had the honor of serving alongside.