Colonel Stephen M. Christian was commissioned as a Air Defense Artillery Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 5-84, 20 December 1984. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 1-51 Air Defense Artillery, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California. | His subsequent assignments include: Executive Officer, A/2-62 Air Defense Artillery, Fort Ord, California; Battalion S1, Headquarters, 2-62 Air Defense Artillery, Fort Ord, California; Aide-de-camp, Headquarters, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California; Battalion S4, Headquarters, 1-62 Air Defense Artillery, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Assistant Secretary General Staff, Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Battery Commander, A/1-62 Air Defense Artillery, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Small Group Instructor, 1-6 Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bliss, Texas; Assistant G3, Army Central Command, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Assistant Division Air Defense Officer, Headquarters, 3-62 Air Defense Artillery, Fort Drum, New York; Battalion S3, Headquarters, 3-62 Air Defense Artillery, Fort Drum, New York; Deputy Director Command Protocol, United States Space Command & NORAD, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Executive Officer to J5, United States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Deputy TSM for NMD, Space & Missile Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Battalion Commander, 1-62 Air Defense Artillery, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Battalion Commander/Dep J3, 1-62 Air Defense Artillery/Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii & Kabul Afghanistan; Legislative Liaison, HeadquartersDA, Washington, D.C.; Garrison Commander, United States Garrison, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. | Colonel Christian's military awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 4, Air Assault and Airborne Badge and Army Staff Identification Badge.