Chris is the founder of Operation Slingshot and a U.S. Navy submarine officer whose path to commissioning reflects the very challenges the organization is designed to address.
Raised in a single-parent household in the suburbs of Chicago, Christopher initially faced repeated setbacks in his pursuit of military service, including rejection from multiple officer accession programs. Undeterred, he enrolled at Northwestern University, as a fist-generation college student, and joined Naval ROTC without a scholarship.
In 2015, his family experienced eviction, forcing him to leave school and navigate a period of homelessness while helping support his younger sister and father. Working multiple jobs, he helped stabilize his family’s situation, returned to his studies, and ultimately earned a Naval ROTC scholarship.
He commissioned into the U.S. Navy in 2018 and later served aboard the USS Charlotte (SSN-766) in Hawaii, Destroyer Squadron 21 in San Diego, and at Naval Reactors Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He has orders to report aboard USS Scranton (SSN-756) as the Engineer Officer.
Through the opportunities provided by military service, Christopher completed his undergraduate degree in Mathematics at Northwestern University, his MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and earned a MA in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
His professional and personal journey—from homelessness to naval officer—demonstrates the transformative potential of military commissioning pathways when paired with the right information, mentorship, and support.
Operation Slingshot was founded to ensure that students/parents from under-resourced communities are aware of these opportunities and have the guidance needed to pursue them successfully.
The principle is simple: talent is universal, but access is not. Pair talent with a roadmap…that’s the SLINGSHOT!
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