A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher D. Luger graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Peace, War, and Defense.  He was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Class and subsequently graduated from The Basic School in 2007 and the Infantry Officer Course in 2008.

As an Infantry Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Luger was assigned to 3d Battalion, 3d Marines in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.  While assigned to 3/3, he served in the Battalion S-3 and as a Platoon Commander in both Kilo Company and Weapons Company, deploying in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Following a recruiting assignment at the 9th Marine Corps District in Kansas City, Missouri, Lieutenant Colonel Luger was selected for an Unmanned Aircraft Systems transition and attended flight training at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  Lieutenant Colonel Luger was thereafter assigned to Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, where he served as Operations Officer and Detachment Officer in Charge for several joint training exercises and Unmanned Aerial Systems missions in support of Task Force Southwest and Operation Resolute Support, Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel Luger is a graduate of the United States Army’s Maneuver Captains Career Course, Expeditionary Warfare School, and Marine Corps Command and Staff College, where he earned a master’s degree in Military Studies.  Lieutenant Colonel Luger has been qualified on the RQ-7b Shadow, RQ-21 Blackjack, and MQ-9A Reaper platforms.  He is privileged to have served in units awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Lieutenant Colonel Luger is married to Jacqueline, and a father to William and Madeleine.