[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 108 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING 31 YEARS OF SERVICE BY COL PAUL C. CHRISTIAN, USMC

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the 31 years of 
dedicated service of Marine Corps COL. Paul C. Christian.
  Colonel Christian is a native of Neenah, WI. While attending the 
University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Colonel Christian joined the 
Marine Corps Platoon Leaders' Class and underwent officer candidate 
training during the summers of 1973 and 1975. He was commissioned a 
Second Lieutenant in December 1975 upon graduation with a B.S. in 
Criminal Justice.
  In March 1976, Second Lieutenant Christian reported to the Basic 
School, MCDEC, Quantico, VA. Upon graduation in September 1976, he was 
sent to NAS Pensacola, FL, for flight training. After receiving his 
designation as a Naval Aviator and promoted to First Lieutenant in 
November 1977, he was ordered to HML-267, Camp Pendleton, CA, for 
transition into the UH-1N. His duties consisted of CMCC/CMS Officer, 
Adjutant, Flight Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. He was 
promoted to Captain in September 1980, and deployed twice to Marine 
Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, with HML-267, Detachment 
Alpha.
  In April 1982, Captain Christian became a ``Plank Holder'' upon the 
commissioning of HMT-303, where he served as the Administrative Officer 
and a Huey flight instructor. Ordered to SOMS, MCAS EI Toro, CA, in 
October 1982, he was assigned as a Search and Rescue Pilot, Officer-in-
Charge of Air Freight/VAL, and Assistant Airfield Operations Officer. 
In October 1985, Captain Christian reported to 1st Battalion, 1st 
Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, as the Air Officer. 
During this period, he deployed to WESTPAC with BLT 1/1, 11th MEU.
  Again ordered to HMT-303 in October 1986, he was assigned as the 
Operations Officer and was promoted to Major in July 1987. In April 
1988, Major Christian reported to HMLA-267 for duty as Executive 
Officer of Det. Alpha and deployed to MCAS Futenma. Upon returning from 
WESTPAC, he assumed duties in January 1989 as the Executive Officer of 
MWSS-372, MCAS Camp Pendleton. In January 1990, Major Christian was 
assigned as a student at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA.
  Upon graduation in June 1990, Major Christian was ordered to the 
Conventional War Plans and Interoperability Directorate (J-7), Joint 
Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC. During this tour, Major Christian 
served as an action officer for deliberate and crisis action planning. 
Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in July 1993, he then reported to MAG-
39, MCAS Camp Pendleton, as the Operations Officer for MAG-39. From 
June 1995 to June 1997, Lieutenant Colonel Christian was the Commanding 
Officer, Aviation Ground Support Element, 3rd MAW, MCAGCC, 29 Palms, 
CA.
  In June 1998, he graduated, with distinction, with a Master's Degree 
in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, 
Newport, RI. Assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan, in 
August 1998, he served as the Deputy and then as the Assistant Chief of 
Staff, G-3. Additionally, he was the Commander, Marine Forces Forward, 
during Exercise Cobra Gold '99 conducted in Thailand.
  In August 1999, Colonel Christian reported to I Marine Expeditionary 
Force and served as the Force Fires Coordinator, Future Operations 
Officer and as the Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary 
Brigade and the Special Purpose MAGTF, Exercise Bright Star conducted 
in Egypt. He was the Commanding Officer of MCAS Camp Pendleton from 
July 2000 to July 2003. On 11 July 2003 he was assigned as the Chief of 
Staff, Marine Corps Air Bases Western Area (MCABWA) and MCAS Miramar. 
He assumed the additional duties of Acting Commander, MCABWA and MCAS 
Miramar from September 2003 until April 2004 due to the deployment of 
the Commanding General to Iraq, when he then resumed his Chief of Staff 
duties. He assumed the duties as the Commanding Officer of MCAS Miramar 
on 6 January 2006.
  Colonel Christian's personal awards include the Legion of Merit, 
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two 
awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps 
Commendation Medal, and the Joint Staff Badge.
  He is married to the former Deborah J. Behnke of Kewaskum, WI. They 
have two daughters, Rachel and Betsy.
  On behalf of the people of the United States whom Colonel Christian 
spent a career serving, I thank him for his service and commitment to 
the defense of our Nation.




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