Col. Christopher J. Weaton is the Deputy Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The center develops, implements, executes and evaluates all Air Force aviation, occupational, weapons, space and nuclear surety programs to preserve combat capability and save lives. In this role, he develops strategic guidance to promote safety awareness, provides technical support and oversight for mishap investigations, evaluates safety programs to ensure policy implementation, directs the Air Force Risk Management program and provides accredited education to safety professionals across the Department of Defense.
Colonel Weaton graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2000 and is a command pilot with 3,143 flight hours, including 1,491 combat flight hours during 7 deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Yukon Sceptre. He commanded at the squadron level and served in staff assignments with 12th Air Force/Air Forces Southern and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to his current position, Colonel Weaton served as Director, Joint Effects and Commander, Air Force Element, Headquarters North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Supreme Allied Command Transformation.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2008 Master of Arts, International Relations and Global Studies, Troy University, Ala.
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Executive Certificate in Leadership, Notre Dame University, Ind.
2020 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Strategic Studies (Grand Strategy), Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 2000 – June 2002, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Flying Training, Rocky Mountain Flight Training Center, Peterson AFB, Colo.; 41st Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, MS.; VT-31 Training Squadron, Corpus Christi NAS, Texas
2. July 2002 – November 2002, Student, C-130 Initial Qualification Training, 714th Training Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
3. November 2002 – September 2007, EC-130H Instructor Pilot, Chief of Training and Combat Readiness Flight Commander, 43d Electronic Combat Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. October 2007 – December 2008, Aide de Camp, Twelfth Air Force and Air Forces Southern, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. January 2009 – September 2009, Student, B-1 Initial Qualification Training, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. October 2009 – June 2012, B-1 Instructor Pilot and Director of Staff, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
7. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 2013 – July 2016, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Global Defense Posture, Deputy Directorate for Joint Strategic Planning, J5, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
9. August 2016 – June 2017, Director of Operations, 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
10. January 2017 – May 2017, Commander, 43d Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
11. June 2017 – June 2019, Commander, 43d Electronic Combat Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
12. July 2019 – May 2020, Student, Air War College, Grand Strategy Program, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2020 – June 2021, Airpower Strategist, Global Force Management, Deputy Directorate for Regional Operations, J35, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Norfolk, Va.
14. July 2021 – May 2024, Director, Joint Effects Programme, Capability Development Directorate, and Commander, Air Force Element, Headquarters NATO, Norfolk, Va.
15. June 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2013 – July 2016, Political-Military Affairs Strategist, Global Defense Posture, Deputy Directorate for Joint Strategic Planning, J5, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
2. July 2020 – June 2021, Airpower Strategist, Global Force Management, Deputy Directorate for Regional Operations, J35, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Norfolk, Va.
3. July 2021 – May 2024, Director, Joint Effects Programme, Capability Development Directorate, and Commander, Air Force Element, Headquarters NATO Supreme Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 3,143
Combat Hours: 1,491
Aircraft Flown: EC-130H, B-1B, C-130E, T-44, T-37, T-42
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 Foreign Policy Institute (FPI) “Future Leaders Program” Fellow
2019 USAF Profession of Arms Center of Excellence (PACE) Leadership Impact Award
2023 NATO Supreme Allied Command Transformation Team of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 31 May 2000
First Lieutenant 31 May 2002
Captain 31 May 2004
Major 1 February 2010
Lieutenant Colonel 1 July 2015
Colonel 1 September 2021
(Current as of 26 June 2024)