COL Chris Upchurch is the Commander of the Army Reserve Element for the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command.  Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he received his commission as an infantry officer through the Georgetown University Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in 1999.  He subsequently served on active duty in the 1^st Cavalry Division and 2^nd Infantry Division. 

A Civil Affairs Officer in the Army Reserve, he has served as U.S. Army North’s Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer for the District of Columbia, interagency liaison for U.S. Central Command, Civil Affairs Planning Team Chief for the 360^th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), Headquarters Element Chief for the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, Civil Liaison Team Chief for the 352^nd Civil Affairs Command, and Deputy Chief of U.S. Army Central’s Theater Civil Military Operations Center.  Earlier assignments also include Company Commander in the 437^th Civil Affairs Battalion, Joint Operations and Plans Officer with U.S. Joint Forces Command, and Assistant Professor of Military Science at George Mason University. 

In his civilian capacity, he is the Director of the Office of International Migration in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.  He holds a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from George Mason University, a Graduate Certificate in Stability, Security, and Development in Complex Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Georgetown University.