BG Chris A. McKinney, Deputy Director (J5) of Partnering, Security Cooperation, and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, USEUCOM, APO, AE

Brigadier General Chris A. McKinney was commissioned in 1993 as a Second Lieutenant and selected for the Corps of Engineers. After serving as an Engineer Platoon Leader with the 201st and 206th Engineer BNs, he reverted to his prior service enlisted/NCO Infantry roots and served as an XO and Company Commander for C Co. 1/151st Infantry. Since then, he has also served assignments in Aviation (BDE XO), Judge Advocate General Corps (CJA), the Military Police Corps (177 MP BDE CDR), and G3 and Chief of Staff for 46 MP Command (2 Star HQs). BG McKinney’s military and federal civilian service spans over thirty years. His repertoire of training and expertise ranges from advanced counter-terrorism experience to service as a military judge.

In 1997 Chris was installed as an FBI Special Agent, where he successfully led undercover cases and served on other high-profile cases. Following his FBI career, Chris became a Senior Associate at a prestigious Kentucky law firm in 2004 and later joined the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2008. Since then, he has served as a National Security and Intelligence Senior Attorney for DHS (currently on Military LWOP while serving on extended Active Duty).

During his tenure as Commander, 177 MP BDE, he led the Brigade and Joint Task Force (JTF) Tiger through statewide COVID-19 responses including: for historic Midland Michigan flooding, civil disturbance actions throughout Michigan and Kenosha, WI, USVI Hurricane response preparation and led 2 separate JTF’s during the 59th Presidential Inauguration (TF Response-13 state element) and Operational Capitol Response II (TF Independence-20 state element). He simultaneously served as the Program Manager (PM) and Director for USNORTHCOM’s C2CRE-B mission, overseeing the readiness, resources and transition of units from 17 different states. McKinney most recently completed his deployment with 46 MPC, who was assigned USARNORTH responsibility for nationwide COVID sites in 5 FEMA regions, which had C2 of T10 COVAX operations.

Following command, he served as Chief of Staff for the 46th MP Command as well as the PM and Director for NORTHCOM’s C2CRE-B. Chris attended undergraduate studies at the United States Military Academy and the University of Kentucky. Chris also holds a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky, as well as a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (Distinguished Graduate).

His top federal awards and decorations include Legion of Merit Medal (bronze oak leaf cluster (OLC), Bronze Star Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (bronze OLC), He has also received military and civilian awards from 19 different states and territories.