Christopher J. (CJ) Douglas serves the Office of the Secretary of War as Deputy to the Commanding General, Personal Property Activity (PPA), Scott Air Force Base. An infantry officer, combat advisor, and veteran with more than 30 years in national security and law enforcement, he has led complex organizations in high-stakes environments across global strategy, crisis management, and senior-level international advisory.
He began his military career in 1985 in the U.S. Army Reserve as a combat engineer with Company C, 854th Engineer Battalion. In 1991, he commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. After The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course, he was assigned to 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, where he participated in Operation BATTLE GRIFFIN in Norway, deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC), and supported Operations CONTINUE HOPE in Somalia, PROVIDE PROMISE and DENY FLIGHT in the Adriatic Sea, and SUPPORT DEMOCRACY in Haiti. In 1995, he transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve to pursue a career in civilian law enforcement. From January 1996 until his retirement in March 2020, he served with the New York State Police as a Trooper, Investigator, and Narcotics Investigator.
His military operational assignments included counter-narcotics missions along the border with Joint Task Force 6 and international maritime partnership work during Exercise Sea Breeze 2001 in Ukraine. After the attacks of 11 September 2001, he was recalled to active duty and led Marines on five combat deployments in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and RESOLUTE SUPPORT. He commanded Company F, 2d Battalion, 25th Marines during combat operations in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, and later commanded Company K, 3d Battalion, 25th Marines during counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar Province. From November 2009 to November 2012, he served as Battalion Commander for1st Battalion, 24th Marines. He subsequently led Security Forces Advise and Assist Team 2-215 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan; commanded Task Force Taqaddum in Ramadi, Iraq; and led Team Police advisory efforts with the 505th Zone National Police in Helmand Province.
Outside the operating forces, he served as a Warfighting Instructor at The Basic School. From October 2020 to August 2022, he was Assistant Chief of Staff G-5 for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command, overseeing strategy, policy, and security cooperation across the Middle East. During the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, he forward-deployed to Qatar as the Marine Corps Coordination Element for processing evacuees. Upon completion, he retired from active duty out of MacDill Air Force Base, FL in October 2022.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Marist College (1990), where he played Division III football. His professional military education includes Amphibious Warfare School, the Command and Staff College Blended Seminar, and the Air War College Non-Resident Program. His personal decorations include two Legions of Merit (one with Combat Distinguishing Device), two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, three Combat Action Ribbons, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.