Congressman Chris Gibson grew up in a working class family in Columbia County, in the town of Kinderhook. The son of a union man, Congressman Gibson attended Ichabod Crane High. At 17, he enlisted in the New York National Guard and later earned an ROTC Commission at nearby Siena College. The first in his family to go to college, Congressman Gibson graduated magna cum laude with a BA in History. He later earned an MPA and PhD in Government from Cornell University. Over the course of his 24 year Army career, Congressman Gibson rose to the rank of Colonel and deployed seven times. Congressman Gibson earned two Legions of Merit, four Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with Star, the Master Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab. For their actions in Mosul in support of the first national election in the new Iraq, his Battalion Task Force earned the Valorous Unit Award. For their actions in Tal Afar during the 2nd and 3rd national elections in Iraq his Battalion and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment were recognized for excellence by President George W. Bush and earned a 2nd Valorous Unit Award.
He was elected to represent the 20th Congressional District in 2010 and re-elected in 2012 to represent the 19th Congressional District. In Congress, Congressman Gibson serves on the House Armed Services Committee (Subcommittees: Tactical Air and Land Forces; Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities; Military Personnel), the House Agriculture Committee (Subcommittees: General Farm Commodities and Risk Management; Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit), and the Republican Policy Committee.
Congressman Gibson has been married to Mary Jo for over 16 years and they have three children: Katie, Maggie and Connor. Congressman Gibson is active in several civic organizations in Kinderhook, including the American Legion, VFW, NRA, the Knights of Columbus and St. John’s Church of Valatie.