Col. Christopher J. Germann is the Deputy Commander of the 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard. The primary mission of the 187th Fighter Wing is to provide the State governor, National Command Authority, and Combatant Commanders with a superbly organized, trained, and equipped F-35A Aviation Package and support functions for world-wide combat and peacetime/ humanitarian tasking in support of community, state, and national interests.
Col. Germann earned his commission in 1996 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Auburn University and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16CJ, F-16A/B/C/D, and QF-16A/C. The colonel’s notable past assignments include tours as the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron Air Liaison Officer, 187 FW Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 187 FW Chief of Wing Safety, 187 FW Operations Support Squadron Director of Operations, and 187 FW F-35A Lightning II Unit Conversion Officer. He has also flown more than 430 combat hours in support of operations Southern Watch, Desert Spring, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Germann served as the 187th Maintenance Group Commander.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
2003 Master’s in Business Administration, Touro University, Los Alamitos, Calif.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 1996-August 1998, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. August 1998-July 1999, F-16 Aircraft Commander, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. July 1999-March 2002, Chief of Wing Weapons and Tactics, 22d Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
4. March 2002-April 2004 Air Liaison Officer, 17th Air Support Operations Squadron, Ft. Benning, Ga.
5. April 2004-September 2006; Assistant Director of Operations, 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. September 2006-September 2007, Chief of Scheduling, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
7. September 2007-January 2009, Chief of Training, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
8. January 2009-January 2011, Chief of Wing Plans and Inspections, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
9. January 2011-January 2013, Chief of Wing Safety, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
10. January 2013- November 2016, Chief of Standard and Evaluation, 100th Fighter Squadron, Dannelly Field, Ala.
11. November 2016-May 2018, Director of Operations, 187th Operational Support Squadron, Dannelly Field, Ala.
12. November 2016-May 2018, Director of the Unit Conversion Office, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
13. May 2018-May 2019, Maintenance Squadron Commander, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
14. May 2019-February 2024, Maintenance Group Commander, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
15. February 2024-Present, Deputy Commander, 187th Fighter Wing, Dannelly Field, Ala.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000, including more than 430 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16CJ, F-16A/B/C/D, and QF-16A/C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug 30, 1996
First Lieutenant Aug 30, 1998
Captain Aug 30, 2000
Major Aug 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel May 11, 2011
Colonel June 1, 2019
(Current as of May 2024)