Today, Captain Marc Ratkus was relieved by Captain Christopher Bryant as Commanding Officer, Center for Information Warfare Training Pensacola.  Captain Bryant’s biography follows:

Captain Christopher G. Bryant
Commanding Officer
Center for Information Warfare Training

Capt. Christopher Bryant is a native of Pace, Florida. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Arkansas State University and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Regis University. Bryant received his commission through Officer Candidate School in July 1996 and earned his Naval Flight Officer wings in Oct. 1997.

In Nov. 1997, he reported to Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6) in Point Mugu, CA, he was designated as a polar transport navigator and completed two deployments to Antarctica.

In 1999, Bryant reported to Patrol Squadron THIRTY (VP-30). Later that same year, he reported to the Golden Eagles (VP-9) in Kaneohe Bay, HI. He completed two deployments to Misawa, Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as numerous worldwide detachment sites. His accomplishments included tactical coordinator (TACCO), mission commander (MC), standoff land attack missile crew member, weapons training officer, and tactics department head.

Bryant reported to Defense Language Institute Washington as a Dutch (Nederland) language student in 2002. In May 2003 he reported to the Personnel Exchange Program in Valkenburg, The Netherlands as the detachment officer in charge and TACCO/MC flying with the Royal Netherlands Navy Squadron 320 where he led multiple deployments to Curacao in support of counter narcotic missions.

In Jan. 2005, Bryant reported to USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) as the assistant air operations officer. He qualified as officer of the deck underway and assistant air operations officer. In 2006 he served as a department head at Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Maryland. He worked in the Information Warfare Support Center as the branch chief for the America’s team coordinating requirements for various combatant commands in support of national objectives. During this tour he was selected for lateral transfer into the information warfare community, and completed Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I and Joint Information Operations Planners Course.

In Mar. 2010, he reported to NIOC Bahrain as the executive officer. During this tour he earned his Information Warfare Officer Insignia and qualified as a naval air observer. After a successful tour as the XO, Bryant reported to OPNAV N2/N6 in Aug. 2011. While there he served on both F2 and F4 staffs. In June 2013, he reported to the Center for Information Dominance Unit Corry Station as the commanding officer. He was responsible for 39 joint courses of instruction with over 300 annual convenes and over 10,000 graduates annually in the cyber and signals intelligence domains. In Sep. 2015, he reported onboard Carrier Strike Group 12 as the deputy information warfare commander where he qualified as force tactical action officer. In Mar. of 2017, he departed for the Joint Staff as the division chief for cyber policy on the J5, completing JPME II enroute. During this tour, he served as the Joint Staff representative to the National Security Council’s Cyber Response Group, led teams that oversaw the elevation of USCYBERCOM to a Unified Combatant Command, the writing and implementation 2018 National Cyber Strategy, 2018 DoD Cyber Strategy and Cyber Posture Review. In Aug. 2019, he reported to Fleet Cyber Command as the assistant chief of staff for plans and policy.

Bryant’s decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Award, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal (First Strike/Flight Award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards) and various other campaign, service and unit awards.

Bryant wears the Information Warfare and Naval Flight Officer insignia.

Bryant has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Award, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Strike/ Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards) and various other campaign, service and unit awards.