Jonathan “JC” Christian is a native of Westbury, New York, a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and 1993 “Distinguished Graduate” of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He also graduated “With Distinction” from both the Surface Warfare Officer Division Officer School and Department Head School, and was selected as the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s “Shiphandler of the Year” for 1997.
CAPT Christian served as the commissioning Gunnery and Missile Officer in USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55), as Assistant Strike Operations Officer in USS FORRESTAL (CV 59), and as Combat Systems Officer in USS DEYO (DD 989). He was then selected for, and served as, Flag Secretary / Aide and Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel and Administration (N1) for Commander, USS ENTERPRISE Battle Group – deploying to COMFIFTHFLT and COMSIXTHFLT in support of NATO operations as well as Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and DESERT FOX. Following this combat deployment, he was selected for early command, and assumed command of USS ORIOLE (MHC 55) in June, 2000. During this command-at-sea assignment, ORIOLE earned numerous Departmental awards, including Retention Excellence, Unit Wellness, and the prestigious Chief of Naval Operations Surface Ship Safety Award for 2002. Under CAPT Christian’s command, ORIOLE was also nominated for the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for “most improved ship” in the Navy.
Ashore, CAPT Christian is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, and served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, Plans and Policy (J-5) Directorate, Middle East Division from April 2002 through June, 2004 as Arabian Gulf Branch Head. As a Strategic Planner, he was selected to serve as a Current Operations Briefer in the National Military Command Center (NMCC), deployed to Iraq and throughout Southwest Asia, and was hand-selected to serve as the Chairman’s traveling Politico-Military Briefer during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Selected again for command, he assumed command of Afloat Training Group Pacific Northwest in December, 2004, and served as Senior Readiness Assessor for vessels homeported at Naval Stations Everett and Bremerton, as well as for U.S. Coast Guard cutters and icebreakers assigned to Districts 13 and 17. Under his command, Afloat Training Group Pacific Northwest was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation.
In his third command assignment, he reported as Commander, Naval Logistics South and served as Commander, Task Force FOUR THREE (CTF 43). Following his distinguished career as a command-experienced Surface Warfare Officer, CAPT Christian continued to serve as Program (Operations) Manager for Raytheon Technical Services Company (RTSC) in support of the U.S Army’s Warfighter Field Operations Support Program, Fleet Port Captain for Crowley Government Services, and currently as General Manager, Pacific Northwest with Maritime Institute.
A service-disabled veteran, Jonathan earned numerous personal, unit, campaign and service medals, and maintained his U.S. Coast Guard license as a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer for thirty years. The most important people in CAPT Christian’s life are his loving wife, Krista (a Certified Flight and NICU Nurse), and his amazing twin daughters, Hannah Grace and Sophia Hope.