Frank L. Christopher

COL Frank L. Christopher is a native of Willingboro, New Jersey. He earned his commission as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Boston University in 1991. In 1995, he was re-commissioned into the Medical Corps.

COL Christopher has earned both BA and MD degrees from Boston University. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the American College of Emergency Physicians, and has authored numerous scientific papers. He is an Associate Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Methodist University.

COL Christopher’s first active duty assignment was as Transitional Intern, Brooke Army Medical Center. His subsequent assignments have included Flight Surgeon, 2D Battalion (Assault), 82D Aviation Regiment, 82D Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Chief Emergency Medicine Resident, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Director, Emergency Observation Service, Brooke Army Medical Center; and Attending Emergency Physician, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He has been active with special operations forces, twice deploying to Operation Enduring Freedom with Joint Task Force 11, and deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom with Joint Task Force 20. In 2003, he assumed duty as Division Surgeon, 82D Airborne Division, and in that capacity deployed with the All Americans to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2005, he returned to Womack to serve concurrently as Chief, Department of Deployment Health and as Medical Director of the Fort Bragg Mobilization Site. COL Christopher assumed command of the 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion in July 2006, deploying the Battalion to OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from August 2007 through November 2008. Leaving command in February 2009, he was assigned as Chief, Department of Emergency Medicine, Womack Army Medical Center. In April 2011, he became Deputy Commander for Clinical Services at Womack.

COL Christopher’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the National Defense Service Medal (with Service Star), the Afghanistan (one campaign star) and Iraq (three campaign stars) Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He has earned the Combat Action Badge, the Combat and Expert Field Medical Badges, the Senior Flight Surgeon Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the German Parachutist Badge. He is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit and has been awarded the “A” proficiency designator by the Surgeon General.

COL Christopher is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army Medical Department Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Flight Surgeon Primary Course. He was Honor Graduate of the Jumpmaster Course.