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Christopher E. West

Strategic Communicator Ready to Drive International and Domestic Public Policy Reform

About Me

My name is Christopher Eugene West, and I am a retired senior Army officer. I served a total of 33 years as both an enlisted member and as a commissioned officer. During my time in uniform, I worked in the medical, field artillery, military engineering, and public affairs career fields. I have been retired from active military service since June 2017. My post-service employment has been as a federal government contractor, as a state government employee, and currently as a public affairs advisor/senior executive, as a community activist, as a corporate board advisor, as a social media influencer, as a local habitué news analyst and commentator, as a guest newspaper columnist, as a University of Maryland School of Public Policy subject matter maven and mentor, as the state director of political communications for an up-and-coming national political party, as well as an online university instructor. Contemporaneously, I also serve as an Associate Minister and Evangelist at one of the oldest African American churches in the City of Memphis, Tennessee--First Baptist Church, Lauderdale. I am a staunch believer in education as evident by me being the recipient of numerous academic degrees and certifications, such as: an Associate of Science degree in Public Affairs, with honors, from Shelby State Community College in Memphis, Tennessee; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English, with honors, and with Departmental honors in English, from the University of Memphis; a Master of Arts degree in Management and Leadership, from Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri; a Master of Public Management in Public Policy Analysis, from the University of Maryland at College Park; a Swiss Executive Diploma (Master’s degree equivalent), with high honors, in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Geneva School of Business and Economics in Geneva, Switzerland; and a Doctor of Divinity degree (honoris causa) in Public Theology and Social Justice, from North Central Theological Seminary in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Presently, I am pursuing a Master of Divinity degree, with concentrations in Social Justice, Evangelism, and Public Theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition, I have held academic fellowships at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, at the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, and at the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute in Washington, District of Columbia. Presently, I am a senior non-resident fellow at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, District of Columbia.

Jurisdiction

United States | Virgin Islands (US) | United States Minor Outlying Islands | The Bahamas | Puerto Rico | Panama | El Salvador | Belize | New Zealand

Experience

Seniority LevelExecutive
Years of Experience20+ years
Current StatusActive
State Director of Communication FORWARD PARTY OF TENNESSEE
2026 - Present

Lead the organization's public narrative and Foreign Policy messaging to establish a recognizable brand identity across the state. Manage comprehensive Social Media Marketing strategies and Website Management to increase digital engagement and reach. Draft press releases and editorial materials that advocate for systemic change and legislative Policy Research. Coordinate the development of communications materials while managing a limited operational budget to maximize impact.

Guest Lecturer UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND-COLLEGE PARK
2025 - Present

Deliver lectures on National Security and Defense Strategy to facilitate high-level academic discussions at the School of Public Policy. Draft and develop course materials that incorporate current trends in the Defense Industrial Base and international relations. Provide critical Editorial feedback on student research and assist with academic assessments.

Adjutant Professor of Strategic Communication, Public Affairs, and National Security Decision MakingUNITED STATES AIR FORCE UNIVERSITY
2025 - 2026

Managed the delivery of online course materials for National Security Decision Making and Defense Strategy programs. Coordinated virtual teaching activities to optimize student engagement with complex Foreign Policy topics. Managed and assessed research projects, providing Proofreading and Editorial guidance for scholarly output. Drafted lesson plans that align with the Global College of Professional Military Education objectives.

Associate MinisterFIRST BAPTIST CHURCH-LAUDERDALE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
2023 - Present

Manage the Scheduling and logistical coordination of weekly services and community outreach programs. Coordinate community support initiatives through strategic Event Coordination and public administration. Serve as a leader in the Memphis Baptist Ministers’ Alliance, overseeing organizational administration. Draft spiritual guidance materials and manage on-call clergy communications for the City of Memphis.

Principal Public Affairs Advisor/Senior ExecutiveWEST COMMUNICATION SERVICES, LLC, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
2020 - Present

Manage Project Management for all advertising, social media, and public relations consulting engagements. Optimize crisis communications processes and lead internal creative services to maintain client brand integrity. Manage and Draft all executive communications, including speechwriting and quarterly business updates. Coordinate the development of Social Media Marketing campaigns for diverse stakeholders.

Public Affairs Officer II BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
2019 - 2020

Managed the evaluation and assessment of informational needs to optimize agency-wide public relations efforts. Coordinated the gathering of data for Policy Research and the preparation of informational materials. Drafted news articles and provided Editorial oversight for all agency publications. Managed subordinate professional and technical personnel through effective Scheduling and leadership.

Education

Masters of Social Justice, Evangelism, and Public Theology MIDWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
2026 - Present
Doctorate of Social Justice and Public TheologyNORTH CENTRAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, SAINT PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
2025 - 2026
Diploma of Senior Executive Fellow in GovernmentHARVARD UNIVERSITY JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
2018 - 2018
Diploma of International Relations and DiplomacyTHE GENEVA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2016 - 2017
Masters of Public ManagementTHE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND
2014 - 2018
Masters of Management & LeadershipWEBSTER UNIVERSITY, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
2005 - 2006
Degree of English & Political ScienceTHE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
1986 - 1989
Degree of Public AffairsSOUTHWEST TENNESSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
1984 - 1986

Certification

Total Certifications5

Public Affairs Officer Course

United States Department of Defense Information School

2000

Advanced Public Information Officer Course

United States Federal Emergency Management Agency

2026

Special Operations Public Affairs Course

United States Department of Defense Joint Special Operations University

2017

Command & General Staff Officer Course

United States Army Command and General Staff College

2004

Campaign Management College

The Leadership Institute

2016

Skills

Core skills10
Interests6
Languages2

Skills

Project Management
Grant Writing
Corporate Communications
Public Policy Analysis
National Security
Defense Strategy
Foreign Policy
Public Affairs
Government Relations
Political Rhetoric

Interests

Political Science
Community Engagement
Leadership
Decision Making
Organizational Management
Religious Studies

Languages

English
Spanish