13th MEU Commanding Officer Col. Christopher D. Taylor

Col. Taylor was born and raised in West Plains, Mo., graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Management/Civil Engineering from University of Missouri-Rolla (n.k.a. Missouri University of Science & Technology), and was commissioned through the Platoon Leader Class program in August 1989. Upon completing The Basic School, Infantry Officer Course, a tour with MAG-42, Millington, Tenn., and flight training at NAS Pensacola, Fla., he was designated a Naval Aviator in March 1992. As a Marine Aviator, Taylor’s operational flying tours included service with HMM-264, MCAS New River, N.C.; HMM-166, MCAS El Toro / MCAS Miramar, Calif.; HMM-165 MCAS Miramar; and as Commanding Officer of HMM-265, MCAS Futenma, Okinawa. During his flying tours, he completed numerous deployments with 26th, 13th, and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Caribbean, and SPMAGTF UNITAS. He also served as an Air Officer and Maritime Special Purpose Force Forward Air Controller with 26th MEU. During his operational tours, Taylor has participated in operations Provide Promise, Deny Flight, Sharp Guard, Joint Endeavor, and Decisive Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia; Silver Wake in Albania; Guardian Retrieval in Africa; Support Democracy and Uphold Democracy in Haiti; Operation Enduring Freedom actions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Horn of Africa; Sea Angel II in Bangladesh; and numerous other contingency operations and Theater Security Cooperation exercises around the globe. As Commanding Officer of HMM-265 from June 2008 to June 2010, then Lt. Col. Taylor led the Dragons through multiple deployments across the Western Pacific supporting numerous Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief operations and Theater Security Cooperation exercises with 31st MEU and 3rd MEB. The Marines and sailors of HMM-265(REIN) were recognized for their superior performance with the Marine Corps Aviation Association Commandant’s Trophy as the best overall squadron in the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award. Taylor’s staff tours include service with Headquarters Marine Corps, Aviation in Washington, D.C., as a Manpower Analyst and Occupational Field Sponsor; 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan, as Current Operations Officer; and Marine Aircraft Group-36 where he served as Operations Officer. Taylor earned a Masters of Military Studies from Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va., where he was a Distinguished Graduate, and a Masters of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington D.C. Taylor’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Air Medal 1 Strike/Flight, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star.