Christopher Kerr Email & Phone Number

Bend, Oregon, United States

Commander of a SBCT Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron with an authorized strength of 556; responsible for preparation of the Squadron for wartime missions; provide vision and guidance for the organization; mentor, coach, and train subordinate Troop and Company Commanders and Staff Officers; maintain a high level of operational readiness within the Squadron; enforce Army standards to entire organization; develop subordinates for positions of higher responsibility; work with the Brigade Commander to fulfill Brigade mission and goals.• Mentored and developed Troop Commanders and Platoon leaders in the Squadron through robust Leader Development Program enabling them to achieve success• Created a culture of work-life balance in the Squadron placing emphasis on family readiness - stressed professionalism, but also a culture of family, camaraderie, teamwork, and esprit de corps• Developed stimulating field training on the Stryker Platform that challenges leaders a all levels in the Squadron to stive to be better• Stress effective quarterly counseling with subordinates in order to produce quality evaluations

Salem, Oregon, United States

Managed planning horizons within the G37 Training Branch. Support Land Component Commander in developing Command Readiness Guidance. Interact with Senior Army Advisor and First Army to track FORSCOM changes impacting unit training. Interact with ARNG TRI, TRC and TRS to communicate out year training requirements and year of execution changes. Provided budget oversight and management decisions for the Individual, collecting training events, schools; collectively expending ~$40 million dollars for training purposes in support of the Oregon Army Guard mission. Led the Training Division team of five Soldiers and one contractor.• Developed and executed Training Year 23 planning that included managing all Army Guard Schools and professional development• Led Land Component Command Operation Planning Team of Action Officers through robust 5-year campaign planning cycle• Drafted a 5-year Campaign Plan with an assessment process to ensure mission accomplishment and flexibility• Managed the State’s operational planning process for Training year 2024• Prioritize and balanced Schools and Exercise funding in the State

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Responsible for the establishment and direction of the United States European Command Communication Synchronization Division. Leads the planning, integration, and coordination for all United States European Command strategic messaging with a focus on great powers competition in the information space both within the AOR and globally against adversaries. Responsible for developing and leading a Command team, development of messaging campaign plans supporting objectives in the National Defense Strategy, United States European Command Theater Strategy, & Theater Campaign Plan. Responsible for identifying messaging capability gaps and solutions in order to synchronize messaging and Operations, Activities, and Investments.• Led planning, integration, and coordination of EUCOM strategic messaging• Responsible for identifying messaging capability gaps and solutions through Key Leader Engagements in support of the National Defense Strategy, EUCOM Theater Strategy, and the Theater Campaign Plan• Supervised a workforce of 28 senior level strategic communication and messaging professionals• Developed strategic and operational daily talking points for Senior Military Leaders for Congressional testimony and strategic communication synchronization across United States European Command• Served as the Co-Chair for the Russian Influence Group with Senior Department of State Personnel to develop interagency whole of government and Joint strategic planning discussion and information sharing between the Department of State, Treasury Department, Department of Justice, and other interagency organizations• Conducted regular coordination with Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of State, EUCOM Joint Directors, Service Components, Combatant Commands, and National Guard Bureau to ensure thorough coordinating of Security Cooperation/Assistance activities and strategic messaging

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Oversaw the daily functions and management of USEUCOM's Security Cooperation and Partnering Division consisting of a joint staff of 30 military, Department of the Army Civilians, and Contractors. Supported the Commander's Campaign Plan with execution of $8.1M in Military to Military contact programs including the Partnership for Peace and Wales Initiative Fund and over $305M in Significant Security Cooperation Initiatives and programs; oversees Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) prioritization of Foreign Military Sales, formulation of Foreign Military Financing proposals, International Military Education Training, Combined Education Programs, Institution Capacity Building and disaster preparedness initiatives; provides oversight for USEUCOM's National Guard State Partnership Program activities including support to the 23 National Guard Bilateral Affairs Officers assigned across Europe.• Responsible for the daily functions and management of EUCOM’s Security Cooperation and Partnering Division consisting of 33 military, Department of Army Civilians and Contractors• Provided Oversite for EUCOM’s National Guard State Partnership Program activities• Selected as the Combined Coordination Center (CCC) Operations Officer, responsible for training, equipment, and deployability of 80 Joint personnel across all service components and EUCOM Staff• Conducted regular coordination with Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of State, EUCOM Joint Directors, Service Components, Combatant Commands, and National Guard Bureau to ensure thorough coordinating of Security Cooperation/Assistance activities and strategic messaging• Lead J5 Planner for AUSTERE CHALLENGE 21, Coordinating across the 10 Division to ensure synchronization of all tasks, suspenses and response cell. Attended all OPTs, ROC Drills, representing NATO, Partner Nations, and Allies to ensure realistic replication and response for the training audience.

Clackamas County, Oregon, United States

Served as the Commander's chief of staff. Direct, coordinate, supervise, train, and synchronize the work of the Brigade Staff, ensuring efficient and prompt staff actions in support of readiness across the brigade. Understand the Commander's intent and lead staff implementation. Monitor status of all units and ensures that status is provided to the Commander. Synchronize all the elements of combat power across echelons. Manage CCIR's, information management processes, recommend staff organization, establish staff timelines, and supervise the JTF CP. Assist the Commander to achieve readiness objectives and implement the priorities of the Commander and The Adjutant General. Support the Commander's safety program using composite risk management. Support the Family Readiness Program. Serve as the fulltime Administrative Officer and the Commander's full-time representative.• Developed a functions common operational picture in the Brigade by establishing a robust Brigade Knowledge Online SharePoint knowledge management system• Assisted in the development of the ATMS Readiness briefing format for the Yearly Readiness Brief that was adopted and used at the State/Division level, nesting the Brigade Commander’s and Land Component Commander’s priorities. • Managed Brigade Staff to ensure all resources were planned and available to support elements participating in European Defender 2020, National Training Center, and mobilization in support of the Guard’s federal mission• Develop a continuity of operations plan and led 170 full-time AGRs through the COVID-19 pandemic with no effects on overall productivity throughout the Brigade

Bend, Oregon, United States

Squadron Executive Officer of a Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron with an authorized strength of 555 in support of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Prepared to Command in the absence of the Squadron Commander. Responsible for all readiness elements of the Squadron ranging from personnel readiness and strength management to training readiness, supply, and maintenance readiness. Responsible for integrating Soldier families, employers, community centers of influence and the squadron staff into one effective team. Responsible for preparing staff to deploy in support of State or Federal missions. Also serves as the full-time Adjutant managing the daily activities of 25 fulltime personnel geographically located in five separate locations throughout Oregon.• Served as the Squadron Operations Officer and Executive Officer during six years of high operational tempo that included four Brigade War Fighter exercises, two XCTC rotations, and the transition from a Light Infantry to a Stryker Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Squadron.• Led planning and execution of the Squadrons’ organizational transformation and multiple New Equipment Training and Fieldings during the Squadron’s transition to the Stryker platform. This included 80 Stryker Combat Vehicles, 6 new support vehicles and numerous communication and survivability systems.• Lead planner in Relief-in-Place activities upon arrival in theater, executing a complex handover during combat operations• Coordinated Squadron Staff to support Garrison Command Soldiers and civilians and coordinated 3 unit moves across the Afghanistan Theater of Operations, adjusting to mission change requirements• Rated #1 Major by the Senior Rater during 5 of the 6 years in position• Contributed directly to the Squadron’s success in combat operations and base de-scoping at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, while performing strategically significant bridging operations for Resolute Support at three installations.

Bend, Oregon, United States

Operations Officer (S-3) of a Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in support of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Duties and responsibilities include advising the commander in matters concerning operations, plans, organization, and training. Maintains current operations estimate, publish overall command SOP, prepare, coordinate, authenticate, and publish operations, plans and orders. Recommends priorities for allocating critical resources of the command. Coordinates all aspects of maneuver and support. Also serves as the senior full-time Administrative Officer managing the daily activities of 26 full-time personnel geographically located in five separate locations throughout Oregon. Supports the activation, mobilization and demobilization of the Squadron.• Developed a Pre and Post Mobilization training plans in anticipation of the Squadron’s Deployment to Afghanistan. This required extensive coordination between supporting echelons, including Brigade, State, 1st Army, and Fort Bliss. • Quickly adjusted to both and initial off-ramping and then retasking of the Squadron and significant shift in schedules. • Showed solid judgement and critical thinking leading the Squadron to exceed 95% pre-mobilization task requirements for individual, leader, and collective training.• Planned and executed two Yellow Ribbon Events• Planned and executed the Pre-Deployment Site Survey to Afghanistan• Planned and executed a challenging XCTC Annual Training rotation in preparation for the Squadron’s 2014 deployment to Afghanistan. • Developed innovated operations plans to include coordinating a multi-state rotary aviation assets for the insertion of Soldier and equipment, including Zodiac watercrafts HELOCAST operation. This event was so well planned and executed, that it was featured in National Guard Magazine. • Led the Staff to develop the first Planning SOP incorporating digital and analog requirements

Clackamas County, Oregon, United States

Responsible for coordination and integration of supply, maintenance, transportation, and service for a Brigade of 2,300 Soldiers. The Brigade Commander’s primary advisor in logistic matters in the Brigade. Worked with the staff, coordinating, and providing input for all planning functions. Maintained a close working relationship and continuous coordination with the Brigade Operations Officer. Responsible for coordinating logistic support and training for four Battalions and one Theater Support Command. Provided direct oversight for over $300 million of equipment inventory, managed a $1.5 million logistical operations budget, and assisted in the management of a $1 million class IX maintenance budget. Supervised the Brigade logistics section, Brigade Property Book Section, and Brigade Maintenance Section consisting of over 30 personnel. • Planned, managed and executed 100% of the Brigades operational support funding allocation and ensured the efficient use of $1.4 million to support the Battalions mission execution• Secured an additional $500,000 for land mobile radios, procuring equipment shortages and increased both brigade readiness and the state’s expenditure rating• Develop an effective funding management program that enabled the Battalions and Brigade to forecast and create spend plans for the $1.5 million in projected funds for future planning and training• Conducted customer meetings with subordinate units and staff and treated my role as a resource supported environment• Oversaw over $600 million in new equipment fieldings for four battalions and the brigade. This included 29 M1A2 SEP Tanks, 36 M2A2 Bradley’s, 3 LUH Lakota Helicopters and over $16 million in other various new equipment fieldings• Developed and refined internal staff processes for property management resulting in the reduction of discharged Soldiers with OCIE from 75 to 50 and FLIPLs from 42 to 21. • Mentored two units who won the Reginal Supply Excellence Award

Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Philosophy, Politics, And Economics

Military Strategic Studies, General