Lieutenant Colonel Christopher G. Blalock was born June 29, 1974 in Washington D.C. and raised in Arlington Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1998 from The University of San Diego. In October of 1998 he entered OCS completing TBS in June of 1999. In August of 1999 he reported to Field Artillery Officer Basic Course (FAOBC) Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
In February of 2000 he was assigned to Kilo Battery, 3d Battalion, 11th Marines aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twenty-nine Palms, California. During his tour with Kilo Battery he served as a Forward Observer with Echo Company 2d Battalion 7th Marines, the Battery Fire Direction Officer, and the Executive Officer. Collateral duties during this time also included Headquarters Platoon Commander, Battery Motor Transport Officer, and Battery Communications Officer. While with Kilo Battery he conducted one six-month Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Okinawa in support of 3d Battalion, 12th Marines. As Kilo Battery Executive Officer, he deployed in September of 2001 to Egypt in support of Exercise Bright-star.
In June of 2002, then First Lieutenant Blalock, accepted orders to Commander Amphibious Group One (COMPHIBGRU-1) in Okinawa, Japan. During this period he served as the Supporting Arms Coordinator for the Seventh Fleet Amphibious Task Force as well as a Plans and Exercises Officer for Seventh Fleet in the III MEF Area of Operation. First Lieutenant Blalock was promoted to Captain in April of 2003.
In July of 2004 he executed orders to Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) in Quantico, Virginia. Upon completion of EWS in May of 2005 he was assigned to 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) as the Assistant Operations Officer. During his time with 1st ANGLICO he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06.2. While in Iraq he operated as both the Assistant Operations Officer and as a Supporting Arms Liaison Team (SALT) OIC operating out of Al Asad and Al Hit supporting Marine Corps units as well as Joint forces throughout the Al Anbar Province.
In August 2006, then Captain Blalock, reported to 2d Battalion 11th Marines assuming Command of Headquarters Battery. On December 19 2006, he assumed the duties as Golf Battery Commanding Officer. During his time with Golf Battery he oversaw the integration of the new Digital Fire Control System (DFCS) and shot over 4000 rounds in support of three infantry Battalions and MAWTS-1. He also commanded the Battery as part of BLT 1/5 on an 11th MEU deployment to the Persian Gulf. This was the first deployment, in support of a MEU, with the new DFCS. During the deployment the Battery conducted live fire training in Kuwait and Djbouti.
Following the return of the 11th MEU in June of 2008, he received order to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego where he assumed the Duties as the G-3 Operations officer overseeing all events and anti-terrorism/ force protection (AT/FP) requirements aboard the installation. During his tour at MCRDSD he attended a nine week Red Team Leaders Course taught by the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies and sponsored by US Northern Command. In February of 2009 he was promoted to Major.
In July of 2010, then Major Blalock, accepted one year Individual Augmentation orders to US Force Afghanistan. During this tour he worked for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) CJ-35 Plans and Operations as the theater Force Management Officer. Part of the responsibilities included force prioritization throughout Afghanistan as well as providing weekly force projection numbers to CENTCOM and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also assisted in planning the US force drawdown. He completed Marine Corps Command and Staff Distance Learning during this deployment.
Upon his return in June of 2011, he reported to the 15th MEU as the Fire Support Officer (FSO). In addition to duties as the FSO, he coordinated training for all the Major Subordinate Commands (MSCs) prior to and during the work up cycle. During the deployment he was the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the detachment located aboard Camp Lemonnier, Djbouti. In the five months he was in the Horn of Africa he coordinated bilateral training for the 15th MEU with the local French forces and the Coalition partners operating within the Joint Task Force- HOA area of operation. He also led the advance party in coordinating training and exercise support in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
In July of 2013, then Major Blalock, reported to the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group- Pacific to assume the duties as the Amphibious Ready Group/ Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) Staff Planning Course Manager. In the three years with EWTGPAC he trained the 11th, 13th, 15th, and the 31st MEUs in crisis response planning and the Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2). He established curriculum for the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response CENTCOM (SPMAGTF-CR-CC), training 1st, 5th, and 7th Marines. He designed and trained tailored courseware for 1st Marine Division on amphibious operations as well as traveling to Japan to provide similar training for the Japanese Self Defense Force Maritime. In addition, he provided amphibious training to 4th Marine Regiment on Okinawa as they prepared to execute the duties as the Regimental Landing Team (RLT) within 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. In the latter part of his time with EWTGPAC he assisted the N33 Fires department in training Fire Support Coordination to multiple Marine and Navy units as well as coalition partners. During this period he completed his Masters of Science Degree in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego.
November of 2015 Lieutenant Colonel Blalock was promoted to his present rank and assumed the duties as the Executive Officer of Camp Mujuk, South Korea. His time in Korea was cut short by a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma forcing him to return to the United States to begin treatment at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Chemotherapy treatment began in late February of 2016 ending in June. Through July and August he completed radiation treatments and was declared fit to return to duty 24 August.
Lieutenant Colonel Blalock's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award) , and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award).