Sergeant Major Christopher Markus Anthony Ivester was born in Gastonia, NC. He enlisted into the Marine Corps on 24 May 2004 and sent to Parris Island, SC.
He was a member of 1st Recruit Training Battalion, platoon 1064. Upon completion of recruit training, PFC Ivester was sent to the Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Geiger, NC. After MCT, he attended Engineer School in Courthouse Bay, Camp Lejeune, NC where he became a Combat Engineer obtaining the MOS of 1371.
After graduating from his MOS school, PFC Ivester reported 3d Marine Division, Combat Assault Battalion, Okinawa, Japan. While there he volunteered for deployment and along with his platoon, was attached to 2d Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment, Fox Company January 2005. In June 2005, he was forward deployed to Korengal, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). While deployed he engaged in numerous combat missions to include Operation Red Wings and Operation Whalers, earning him a Combat Action Ribbon. Following the deployment, Cpl Ivester returned to Okinawa and became a Martial Arts Instructor before receiving orders to 8th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB), Bridge Company in December 2006.
In February 2007, Cpl Ivester was forward deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a Squad Leader conducting the construction of combat outposts and demolition of obsolete bases. Before returning later that year he was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant. While back from deployment, Sgt Ivester attended multiple courses, ranging from Urban Breachers Course to Combat Engineer Journeyman Course, to Bridge Master Course. In April of 2009, Sgt Ivester was hand selected to lead a bridging detachment with 8th ESB Charlie Company to again deploy in support of OEF where he led missions all over the Helmand Province employing medium girder bridges (MGB). Upon returning, Sgt Ivester received orders to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA. After he arrived, he was assigned as the guide in Bridge Platoon, Charlie Company in preparation for another deployment in support of OEF and to aid in the activation of Bridge Company within the battalion. In April 2011, Sgt Ivester deployed as the Battalion's Bridge Master where once again he led missions all over the Helmand Province this time retrieving the majority of the MGBs that were emplaced and replacing them with non-standard bridges.
After returning from Afghanistan, Sgt Ivester was sent to Special Operations Training Group (SOTG). While at SOTG, SSgt Ivester held the billets of Engineer Chief and Operations Chief and attended Helicopter Rope Suspension Technique (HRST) Master and Non-lethal instructor Course. In November 2013, SSgt Ivester attended and graduated Marine Security Guard (MSG) Detachment Commander school as the honor graduate and was assigned to Region 3, Shanghai, China, followed by Region 8, Podgorica, Montenegro.
After the successful tour of MSG Duty, GySgt Ivester was given orders to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB), Mobility Assault Company (MAC), Camp Lejeune, NC and shortly received deployment orders to United States Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa be the SNCOIC of the Joint Operations Center (JOC) in Djibouti, but spending the majority of that time further forward in Somalia as the senior enlisted leader (SEL). Returning from his deployment, GySgt Ivester took over as the Operations Chief for MAC. In September of 2018, GySgt Ivester led recovery operations for post-hurricane Florence for 2d CEB where his team emplaced an Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge for emergency response personnel and cleared 450 tons of debris in and around Camp Lejeune. In July 2019, GySgt Ivester received orders to the Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune, NC. While there, he attended the Instructor Development Course and was placed in charge of the Marines Awaiting Training platoon. In April 2020, 1stSgt Ivester received orders to 2d Battalion, 2d Marines (V22) where he supported Unit Deployment Program (UDP) 21.1 to Okinawa, Japan as Easy Company's, Company 1stSgt conducting joint training with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and took over as H&S Company 1stSgt upon returning from UDP 21.1.
In June 2022, 1stSgt Ivester reported to Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, Region 9 Headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and assumed the duties of Region 1stSgt where he was the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for 21 Marine Security Guard detachments in 15 different countries throughout Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
In June 2024, SgtMaj Ivester received orders to Combat Logistics Battalion-1 to serve as the Battalion Sergeant Major. During his tour he completed one deployment as part of the UDP 25.3 to Darwin, Australia supporting the United States Indo-Pacific Command. In June 2026, SgtMaj Ivester checked into Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA 267) where he currently serves as the Squadron Sergeant Major.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (6), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Star.