COL Eric P. Christiansen Jr.
COL Eric P. Christiansen Jr. is from Streamwood, Illinois, and began his Army career as an enlisted Combat Medic in June 1992. COL Christiansen earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corp on Dec. 13, 1998, through Army ROTC. His initial assignment was with the 233rd Transportation Company from 1999 to 2001 including duty Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer.
From 2001 to 2004, he served in staff assignments with the 53rd Movement Control Battalion in Ft McPherson, GA, with a deployment in support of OIF in Kuwait and Iraq.
From 2004 to 2008, COL Christiansen served in multiple staff positions and Commanded Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3D Infantry Division through two deployments in support of OIF III and V in Iraq.
From 2008 to 2012, COL Christiansen served in the USAREUR G4 and Command Group and eventually with the 172D Infantry Brigade in Grafenwoehr, Germany. While with the 172D, COL Christiansen served as a Battalion Executive Officer and Brigade S4 while in support of OEF 11-12 in Afghanistan.
After completing CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, COL Christiansen served three years with NORAD & USNORTHCOM as a Joint Logistics Officer as the Executive Officer for the J4 Director.
COL Christiansen commanded the 115th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from January 2017 to April 2019 while deploying his troops to Eastern Europe in support Operation Atlantic Resolve.
COL Christiansen most recently served as the Professor of Military Science at Clemson University from June 2019 to June 2021.
COL Christiansen is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College, Command and General Staff College, Logistics Captains Career Course, and Transportation Officer Basic Course. He was selected for Senior Service College in 2018 and will attend as a Fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology during the academic year 2021-22. COL Christiansen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Science degree from Kansas State University.
His awards and decorations include multiple quantities of the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Badge.
COL Christiansen is married to Suzi Christiansen and they have three children, Charlotte, Madalyn, and Eric.
Lieutenant Colonel Adolfo U. Gorbea
Lieutenant Colonel Adolfo U. Gorbea is a National Defense Fellow at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a Command Pilot with more than 3,400 hours, including 450 combat hours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. He has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan, Malaysia, Philippines, and Horn of Africa. Lt Col Gorbea holds three Masters's Degrees in National Security, Operational Art, and Science, and is also fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. He is married to the former Irma Maldonado of Puerto Rico and has two daughters, Sofia and Elena.
Education
- 2002 B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
- 2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- 2009 M.A. Homeland Security, American Military University, West Virginia
- 2013 Advanced Instrument School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- 2015 M.A. Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
- 2016 M.A. School of Advanced Warfighting, Marine Corps University, MCB Quantico, Virgina
- 2018 Chief of Safety & Board President Course, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
- 2021 JPME II, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, Virginia
Assignments
- 2002-2003 Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
- 2003-2004 Student, Advanced Multiengine Pilot Training, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
- 2004-2008 Group Executive Officer, Aircraft Commander, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
- 2008-2012 Flight Commander, Instructor Pilot, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- 2012-2014 Chief, Standards/Evaluations, Evaluator Pilot, 7th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
- 2014-2015 Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- 2015-2016 Student, School of Advanced Warfighting, MCB Quantico, Virginia
- 2016-2018 Director, AFSOC Cochran Group, HQ AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- 2018-2019 Chief of Safety, 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- 2019-2020 Commandant, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- 2020-2021 Deputy Commander, 492d Special Operations Training Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- 2021-present Student, SDE, National Defense Fellowship, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
Flight Information
- Rating: Command Pilot
- Flight Hours: More than 3,400 hours
- Aircraft Flown: T-37B, T-44A, C-130E, C-130H, MC-130H, C-145A, PA-18
Major Awards and Decorations
- Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
- Aerial Achievement Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- Joint Service Achievement Medal with an oak leaf cluster
- Air Force Achievement Medal with an oak leaf cluster
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- NATO Medal
Effective Dates of Promotion
- Second Lieutenant 2002
- First Lieutenant 2004
- Captain 2006
- Major 2012
- Lieutenant Colonel 2017
CAPT Tom Petersen
CAPT Tom Petersen is a native of Redwing, Minnesota, and a 1988 graduate of the University of Arizona. He holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from George Mason University. He enlisted in the Navy as an Intelligence Specialist in 1993, was commissioned an Ensign in 1997, and was designated a naval intelligence officer.
CAPT Petersen’s sea tours include: Aviation Intelligence Officer assigned to VFA-34 embarked onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); Staff Intelligence Officer (N2) for Commander Amphibious Squadron SEVEN embarked onboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6); Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (N2) assigned to Commander Carrier Strike Group TEN embarked onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). He completed multiple operational deployments to the COMSIXTHFLT, COMFIFTHFLT, and COMSEVENTHFLT theaters in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE. Additionally, he volunteered for a one-year Global War on Terrorism Individual Augmentation assignment to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Ashore, CAPT Petersen served at the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, followed by an assignment at HQ U.S. European Command (J2) in Stuttgart, Germany. After attending the U.S. Naval War College, he was assigned to the Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff (J2) at the Pentagon. He also served as Executive Officer, Hopper Information Services Center in Suitland, Maryland, and prior to selection as a Sam Nunn fellow, he was the Officer in Charge of the Office of Naval Intelligence Detachment at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
CAPT Petersen’s awards include Defense Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), along with other unit, campaign, and personal awards. He is married to the former Tammy Johnson from Mitchell, IN, and they have 2 daughters, Isabella and Molly.