Steven Christopher

Lieutenant Colonel Steven Christopher is an Air Force National Defense Fellow and a Research Fellow at the Belfer Center’s International Security Program at Harvard Kennedy School. His research focuses on whole-of-nation organization and action to effectively compete in great power competition.

Steven was commissioned with academic and athletic distinction from the U.S. Air Force Academy as an Electrical Engineering major and Wings of Blue Parachute Team Cadet Commander. He has served in reconnaissance, flight test, formal training, and remote-piloted aircraft units. He also graduated with distinction from the Defense Language Institute’s Chinese course and studied as an Olmsted Scholar in Singapore. As a Foreign Area Officer, he served as the Senior Air Force Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Prior to moving to Cambridge, Steven was the Squadron Commander of the Department of the Air Force’s Indo-Pacific Military Personnel Exchange Program and Overseas Development Education. He commanded 163 Air and Space Force personnel across 28 career fields, 31 geographically separated units, 15 schools, and 13 countries

Previously, Steven also served as an RQ-170 Evaluator Pilot and Operations Group Executive Officer. He is a graduate of Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and a senior pilot with more than 2,200 flying hours, including over 1,400 hours of combat experience in the RQ-170, MC-12W, and MQ-1B. He has flown combat missions in operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel.

Steven and his wife have four children and enjoy triathlons, traveling, and serving the local community.