Christopher Cunningham enlisted in the United States Army on December 30, 1998 as an Infantryman with an Airborne Ranger contract. He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first duty assignment was with the 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia from March 1999 until January 2003. There he served in various positions from rifleman, senior gunner, and team leader. His first deployment was to Operation Bright Star in Egypt. He then deployed to Afghanistan twice with the Rangers in December 2001 and October of 2002. He graduated from Primary Leadership Development Course as the Leadership Awardee from Fort Stewart, GA in 2002. His next duty assignment was as a Team Leader with the Long Range Surveillance Detachment, 110th Military Intelligence Bn, Fort Drum, NY. While there he deployed back to Afghanistan in October of 2003. He completed the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course on the Commandant’s List at Fort Benning, GA in 2005. In 2004 he was then assigned to C Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Squadron as a Sniper Section Leader and Platoon Sergeant.  He deployed again to Afghanistan in February of 2006 and redeployed June of 2007. In February 2008 his next duty assignment was with 6th Ranger Training Battalion on Eglin Air Force Base as a Primary Ranger Instructor and Operations NCOIC. His next assignment was as a Scout Platoon Sergeant with 1/87 Infantry in the 10th Mountain Division. He deployed to Afghanistan in January of 2013. Upon redeployment, he made the selection list for Master Sergeant. He was frocked to First Sergeant and took over A Company, 2-22IN at 10th Mountain Division. There he served as a First Sergeant for 30 months and deployed his Company to Operation Inherent Resolve as the Security Forces NCOIC for Combined Joint Force Land Component Command – Iraq, in Baghdad

Mr. Cunningham’s military and civilian education includes the Commander/First Sergeant Course, Jumpmaster, Senior Leaders Course, Army Basic Instructor Course, Senior Tactics Instructor Course, Pathfinder, Sniper, Advance Leaders Course, Basic Leaders Course, Ranger School, Combat Lifesaver’s Course, Combatives Level 1 Course, and Airborne School.

Mr. Cunningham’s awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star w/ Valor, Bronze Star (3 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), ARCOM (6 OLC), AAM (1 OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, GCM (5th Award), NDSM, ACM (3 CS), OIR (2 CS), GWOTEM, GWOTSM, ASR, OSR (#3) NATO Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Expert Qualification Badge- M4 Carbine.

Mr. Cunningham retired from the United States Army in May of 2021. In addition to his position as Enrollment Officer for the Department of Military Studies, Mr. Cunningham is a Volunteer Firefighter and Commission Member for the Westford Conservation Commission.