Colonel CHRISTOPHER "CHRIS" HOLLAND Col. Christopher Holland is the Commander, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts. He leads the “Patriot Wing” which, executes strategic airlift with eight C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft, agile combat support, and aeromedical evacuation missions. In this capacity Holland is responsible for training and equipping more than 2,900 personnel, including Air Reserve Technician, Active Guard Reserve, Civilian, and Traditional Reserve members. Col. Holland is also the installation commander.A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Col. Holland received his commission through the United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1998. With over 27 years of service, he is a command pilot with more than 3,000 hours in the C-17, KC-46, KC-135 and C-130 aircraft. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Air Force Intern Program and has Office of the Secretary of Defense and Headquarters Air Force staff experience.Prior to his current position, Col. Holland served as the Commander, 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. He was responsible for the execution of C-17 airlift, agile combat support, and aeromedical evacuation missions. Additionally, he also served as an Executive Officer, Director of Operations, and Squadron Commander. He deployed as Central Command Director of Mobility Forces and has flown combat sorties in both the KC-135 and the C-130 in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and numerous missions for Operation NOBLE EAGLE.EDUCATION1998 Bachelor of Arts in American History, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill1998 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.2000 Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas2000 KC-135 Stratotanker Combat Crew Training, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.2007 Master of Arts in Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.2007 Air Command and Staff College (by correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.2007 Air Force Intern Program, Pentagon, Washington D.C.2009 C-130 Initial/Mission Qualification courses, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.2014 KC-135 Aircraft Commander Requalification Course, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.2018 Air War College (by correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.2021 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Air Force Expeditionary Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.2024 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.2025 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillASSIGNMENTS1. August 1998–March 1999, Casual Lieutenant Program, Section Commander, 4th Operations Support Squadron,Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.2. March 1999–June 2000, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas3. June 2000–September 2000, KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB, Okla.4. September 2000–July 2005, KC-135R/T Instructor Aircraft Commander, Flight Commander, Assistant FlightCommander, Squadron Executive Officer, 99th Air Refueling Squadron, 19th Air Refueling Group, Robins AFB, Ga.5. July 2005–June 2007, Air Force Intern Program with duties in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) and the Concepts, Strategy and Wargaming Division (Skunk Works), Deputy Chief of Staff Air and SpaceOperations, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.6. June 2007–August 2008, Air Force Requirements Directorate, Branch Chief, Resources and Contracts, Pentagon,Washington, D.C.7. August 2008–September 2011, C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, Director of Staff, Assistant Director of Operations, 50thAirlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.8. September 2011–March 2012, C-130E/H Instructor Pilot, Chief, Plans and Programs, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock, AFB, Ark.9. March 2012-September 2012, Director of Staff, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan10. September 2012–September 2013, C-130 E/H Instructor Pilot, Operations Officer, 34th Combat Training Squadron,Little Rock AFB, Ark.11. September 2013–October 2016, KC-135R Aircraft Commander, 77th Air Refueling Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.12. October 2016–February 2018, Commander, 77th Air Refueling Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.13. February 2018–July 2023, Commander, 916th Operations Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.14. March-June 2022, Director of Mobility Forces, Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar15. July 2023–August 2025, Commander, 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.16. August 2025–Present, Commander, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.FLIGHT INFORMATIONRating: command pilotFlight hours: 3,000 including more than 900 combat/combat support hoursAircraft flown: KC-135R/T, C-130E/H, KC-46A and C-17AMAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONSLegion of MeritMeritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters Air Medal with seven oak leaf clustersAir and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air and Space Achievement MedalMeritorious Unit Award with six oak leaf clustersAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with nine oak leaf clusters and valor deviceOTHER ACHIEVEMENTS2000 Distinguished Graduate, KC-135R Combat Crew Training School2003 99th Air Refueling Squadron Company Grade Officer of the Year2003 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer SchoolEFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONSecond Lieutenant May 16, 1998First Lieutenant May 27, 2000Captain May 27, 2002Major February 1, 2008Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2013Colonel March 14, 2019(Current as of August 2025)