Col Christopher M. Waddell is the Commander of the 319th Mission Support Group of Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The 319th Mission Support Group is the largest and most diverse group in the wing, with 1,200 Airmen and civilian personnel comprised of six squadrons which provides logistics, security, civil engineer, contracting, communications, and force support functions. This portfolio of facilities and equipment is valued at $2.4 billion. Additionally, the group provides world class Base Operating Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Space Force.
A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Colonel Waddell entered the Air Force in November 2002 upon receiving his commission from Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He is a career cyberspace operations officer serving in various positions, including two squadron commands, three deployments, and multiple deputy or chief positions at combatant commands, major commands and Headquarters Air Force.
Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Waddell was the Deputy Director, C4 Systems Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, Business Information Systems, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas
2003 Basic Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler Air Force Base (AFB), Miss.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Information Operations Integration Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2008 Air and Space Operations Center Combat Operations Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Business Administration, Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2011 Advanced Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2014 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2015 Cyberspace 300, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2021 Air War College, non-residence
2024 Master of Strategic Studies, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Penn.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2002 – September 2003, Chief, Automated Data Processing Equipment, 99th Communications Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2. September 2003 – September 2004, Chief, Telephone Systems, 99th Communications Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
3. September 2004 – April 2005, Officer In Charge, Networking, 414th Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. April 2005 – June 2005, Executive Officer, 414th Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. June 2005 – April 2006, Executive Officer, 432nd Operations Group, Creech AFB, Nev.
6. April 2006 – May 2008, Special Assistant to the Commander, 432nd Operations Group, Creech AFB, Nev. (April 2006 – August 2006, Naval Special Warfare Liaison Officer, Personal Security Coordination Cell, Baghdad, Iraq) (January 2007 – January 2008, Afghan Army G6 Maintenance Advisor, 755th Expeditionary Support Squadron, Camp Eggers, Afghanistan)
7. May 2008 – September 2009, Chief, Network Warfare and Special Technical Operations, 603rd Air and Space Operations Center, Ramstein Air Base (AB), Germany
8. September 2009 – March 2010, Flight Commander, Plans and Requirements Flight, 603rd Air and Space Communications Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
9. March 2010 – August 2010, Flight Commander, Mission Systems Flight, 603rd Air and Space Communications Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
10. August 2010 – November 2012, Chief, Command and Control Engineering Branch, Combined Air and Space Operations Center – Experimental, Air Force C2 Integration Center, Langley AFB, Va. (April 2012 – October 2012, Deputy Chief, Current Operations, Joint Task Force – Bravo, Soto Cano AB, Honduras)
11. November 2012 – August 2013, Deputy Chief, Combined Air and Space Operations Center – Experimental, Air Force C2 Integration Center, Langley AFB, Va.
12. August 2013 – June 2014, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. June 2014 – June 2015, Chief, Airborne Communications Branch, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighting Integration, Office of Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2015 – June 2016, Airpower Strategist, Strategy Division, Directorate of Strategy, Concepts, and Assessments, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans & Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2016 – July 2018, Commander, 52d Communications Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
16. July 2018 – July 2020, Director, Joint Special Operations Command Air Component J6, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
17. July 2020 – July 2023, Commander, 502d Communications Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Tx.
18. July 2023 – June 2024, Student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Penn.
19. June 2024 – June 2026, Deputy Director, C4 Systems, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Ne.
20. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 319th Mission Support Group, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2018 – July 2020, Director, Joint Special Operations Command Air Component J6, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2024 – June 2026, Deputy Director, C4 Systems, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Ne., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 8, 2002
First Lieutenant November 8, 2004
Captain November 8, 2006
Major November 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2017 Colonel October 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2026)