Colonel (Retired) John Christian retired from the US Army in 2012 after thirty years of service where he developed and implemented new strategies, programs, and built teams to solve complex problems under pressure in and out of war zones.
He served in two Army Special Mission Units: the heralded “Delta Force”, and “the Activity” in a variety of leadership positions. General Stanley McChrystal and Sean Naylor have mentioned him in both “My Share of the Task” and “Relentless Strike.” COL (R) Christian also served as a Foreign Area Officer in Southeast Asia assigned to The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines where he worked on counterterrorism initiatives, disaster response, hostage negotiations and rescue missions. He has lived and worked in over 40 countries worldwide.
During his career COL (R) Christian served as Combined, Joint, Interagency Task Force (CJIATF) Commander for four successive JSOC Commanders: Lieutenant General Dell Dailey, General Stanley McChrystal, Admiral William McRaven, and General Joe Votel. He led joint and interagency special operations task force missions operating across the globe, both in combat zones, and in sensitive non-combat areas. He built partnerships with French, UK, and other nations’ special operations forces, law enforcement, and intelligence organizations. John was the CJIATF Commander for the daring and successful rescue of three Italian and one Polish hostage from Sunni terrorists in 2004 on Objective Medford outside Bagdad which has become known in military circles as “the Italian Job”. He was also the Commander for the recovery of the Australian hostage Douglas Wood in June of 2005.
COL (R) Christian was a principal negotiator for Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) to Sunni terrorists, insurgents, and tribal leaders; Shia insurgents; and the Government of Iraq as part of the strategic engagement cell. He negotiated with terrorists, insurgent leaders, tribal sheikhs, senior Government officials to include Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, General David Petraeus, General Raymond Odierno, both the US and UK Ambassadors, as well as the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Through these negotiations and other efforts civilian casualties in Iraq were reduced from over 5,000 a month to less than 500 a month.
Since retiring COL (R) Christian has maintained his passion for building teams, teaching, and mentoring by conducting interagency communications and negotiation seminars for Special Operations Forces, and teaching as a supernumerary at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy on foreign policy, clandestine and covert action, and US hostage policy. He and his wife, Martha, now reside just outside of the Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve in Southern Pines North Carolina. Their son, Michael, lives and works in Charlotte while their son, Matthew, attends graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill.
COL (R) Christian’s awards and decorations: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star w/ 3 Oak Leafs; Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf; Joint Service Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf; Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 Oak Leafs; Army Commendation Medal w/ 2 Oak Leafs; Army Achievement Medal w/ 3 Oak Leafs; Philippine Military Civic Action Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; USA/USAF Presidential Unit Citation; Army Superior Unit Award; National Defense Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; IRAQ Campaign Medal w/ 3 Campaign Stars; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon (2 nd Award); Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation; NATO Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge; Silver Basic Recruiter Badge; Ranger Tab; Pathfinder Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Basic Military Freefall Parachutist Badge; German Armed Forces Parachutist Badge Bronze; Royal Netherlands Army Parachute Badge.