Battalion Commander LTC Christopher Telley
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Telley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in May 2001 as a Stinger/Avenger Gunner. He began his active-duty, Army service after graduating from the University of North Georgia with a B.S. in Political Science in 2007. After completing the Armor Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Irwin, CA where he served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Aide de Camp.
In 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Telley attended the Maneuver Captains’ Career Course. After graduation, he was assigned to Fort Riley, KS, commanding A Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment and then the Squadron’s Headquarters Troop. He moved on to Joint Test Unit-Nellis in 2014, conducting advanced joint technology integration experimentation throughout the Pacific.
In 2015, Lieutenant Colonel Telley was accepted into Functional Area 30, beginning his career as an Information Operations Officer, at Camp Zama, Japan. In this capacity, he managed strategic communication for U.S. Army Japan, featuring trilateral negotiations with Japan and South Korea, as well as Multi-Domain Battle exploration with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. In 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Telley attended the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, CA where he earned a Master of Arts in Information Strategy and Political Warfare. He arrived at Special Operations Command - South in January of 2019, where he led the unit's Cross-Functional Team for External State Actors—integrating intelligence, information-related capabilities, technical effects, and counter-threat finance in support of strategic competition across Latin America and the Caribbean. Lieutenant Colonel Telley was then assigned to the Secretary of Defense's Strategic Thinker Program at Johns Hopkins University. His most recent assignment was as an Interagency Campaign Planner with the State Department’s Global Engagement Center.
Lieutenant Colonel Telley has completed deployments in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2004); and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (2012). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with OLC, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with OLC, the Army Achievement Medal with OLC, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, Air Assault Wings, as well as the Parachutist Badge.
Lieutenant Colonel Telley is married to the former Heather Sweatte of Dawsonville, GA. They have one daughter: Lyra.