Milton Marine Inducted into NYS Senate Hall of Fame

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) recently inducted retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Christopher J. Douglas of Milton into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. Col. Douglas served our state and nation in numerous combat tours in Iraq as well as serving in Afghanistan, Somalia and Haiti.

“Col. Douglas is a great patriot who led Marines in five combat tours to protect our nation and way of life, and he continues to serve our country in civilian life with the U.S. Department of War.  I’m proud to recognize Col. Douglas’s service by inducting him into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.

 Douglas currently serves Deputy to the Commanding General and Highly Qualified Expert to the Office of the U.S. Secretary of War.

 Col. Douglas received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Marist College in 1990, where he played Division III football. From March 1985 to June 1991, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a combat engineer with Company C, 854th Engineer Battalion.

 In 1991, Col. Douglas completed the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, The Basic School, and the Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Virginia. He was then assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, where he commanded three platoons, was an executive officer, and was the 3/6 battalion adjutant. During this tour, he participated in Operation Battle Griffin in Norway. He served as part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Operations Continue Hope in Somalia, Provide Promise and Deny Flight in the Adriatic Sea, and Support Democracy in Haiti.

 In 1995, Douglas transitioned from active military service to the United States Marine Corps Reserve to pursue a career in Law Enforcement. He entered the New York State Police in January 1996 and served as a Trooper, Investigator, and Narcotics Investigator. 

Following the attack on America on September 11, 2001, Douglas would return to active duty to lead Marines on five combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Enduring Freedom (OEF), Inherent Resolve (OIR), and Freedom’s Sentinel.

He retired as a Narcotics Investigator from the New York State Police in March 2020 to return to active service. 

During the withdrawal from Afghanistan, he served as the assistant chief of staff G-5 at U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command, forward-deployed to Qatar to assist with processing evacuees from Afghanistan. He was also the senior Marine in the Pentagon’s investigation into the August 2021 bombing outside the Kabul airport, that killed 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghans. He subsequently retired from the Marine Corps in October 2022.

His personal awards include two Legion of Merits, one with a 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 Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” a Navy, Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Douglas and his wife Susan live in Milton, NY. Their son,1LT John B. Douglas IV now serves as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army.