Christopher Wolter

Colonel Christopher D. Wolter is the Strategic Plans Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Arkansas National Guard, Camp Joseph T. Robinson. He is responsible for strategic planning for current and future military strategies, developing joint integration plans, joint training, joint Professional Military Education, and exercise programs, and to develop the action plans to implement approved joint strategies for the state, to include disaster response and civil support missions. Col Wolter serves as the primary advisor to the Adjutant General and the Chief of the Joint Staff for the formulation of strategic plans, policies, international affairs, joint training, and force development. In cooperation with the State Partnership Program Coordinator, he plans and executes missions with Arkansas’ State Partner country, Guatemala.

Col Wolter was born in Sioux City, Iowa. He graduated from South Sioux City (Nebr.) High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas in 2003. He spent almost all of his first eleven years as an aircraft communication and navigation systems specialist, six on Active Duty, with one year of service with the 142d Field Artillery Brigade, and joined the NCO ranks as a staff sergeant in 1997. In 2004, he was commissioned a second lieutenant from the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science and became an intelligence officer with the 188th Fighter Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Col Wolter came to the 189th Airlift Wing fulltime in 2006 as the Wing Executive Staff Officer.  He became the 189th Communications Flight commander in 2010, and completed Undergraduate Cyber Training in May 2011. He then served as commander of both the 189th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 189th Maintenance Squadron, as well as the 19th Maintenance Group Deputy Commander for 120 days in 2019, prior to his current assignment.

EDUCATION:

1997  Airman Leadership School in residence, Beale AFB, California
1998  Associate of Applied Science in Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2001  Associate of Arts and Associate of Science, Northwest Arkansas Community College
2002  Non-Commissioned Officer Academy by correspondence
2003  Bachelor of science degree in Organizational Management, John Brown University
2006 Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX
2009  Squadron Officer School by correspondence
2011 Undergraduate Cyber Training, Keesler Air Force Base, MS
2016 Air Command and Staff College with Online Masters Program by correspondence
2017 Advanced Sortie Production Course, Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer School
2019 Air War College by correspondence
2021 USAF Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Dec 1992 – Jan 1993, trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2. Jan 1993 – July 1993, student, Aircraft Communication/Navigation Systems Course, Keesler AFB, MS
3. Jul 1993 – Aug 1995, Aircraft Communication/Navigation Systems Apprentice/ Journeyman, 23d Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
4. Sep 1995 – Sep 1996, Aircraft Communication/Navigation Systems Journeyman, 85th Operations Squadron, Tanker Support Flight, NAS Keflavik, Iceland
5. Oct 1996 – Dec 1998, Aircraft Communication/Navigation Systems Journeyman/ Craftsman, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, CA
6. Feb 1999 – Mar 2000, Communications Platoon NCO, Headquarters Battery, 142d Field Artillery Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard, Fayetteville, AR
7. Mar 2000 – Oct 2003, Aircraft Communication/Navigation Systems Journeyman/ Craftsman, 189th Maintenance Squadron, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock AFB, AR
8. Oct 2003 – Jul 2006, Intel Applications Officer, 188th Operational Support Squadron, Arkansas Air National Guard, Ebbing ANGB, Ft Smith, AR
9. Aug 2006 – May 2010, Wing Executive Staff Officer, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock AFB, AR
10. May 2010 – Sep 2014, Commander, 189th Communications Flight, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock AFB, AR
11. Sep 2014 – Sep 2017, Commander, 189th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock AFB, AR
12. Sep 2017 – Jun 2020, Commander, 189th Maintenance Squadron, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock AFB, AR
13. Jun 2020 – Present, Strategic Plans Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Arkansas National Guard, Camp J.T. Robinson, AR

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal with Bronze Star device
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass device
Air Force NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Rifle and Pistol
Air Force Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
Arkansas Commendation Medal
Arkansas Service Ribbon with three diamonds

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant, June 25, 2004
First Lieutenant, June 25, 2006
Captain, June 25, 2008
Major, August 14, 2012
Lt Colonel, March 5, 2017
Colonel, March 25, 2021