5th Marine Regiment Command Desk

Colonel Chris Steele is a native of Fayetteville, Georgia. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1994, obtaining the rank of Sergeant. He was commissioned a Marine Second Lieutenant in 1998, upon graduation from the University of North Georgia.

Colonel Steele completed The Basic School in 1999 and subsequently completed the Infantry Officer Course. He was then ordered to report to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. From 1999 to 2003, Colonel Steele served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. During this time, he completed two deployments to Japan.

Upon completion of his tour with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, Colonel Steele served as a Basic Officers Course Instructor in Quantico, Virginia. After spending a year in the Warfighting Department, he served as a Staff Platoon Commander for Company A, Company E and Company I. He attended Expeditionary Warfare School from 2005 to 2006 and was then ordered to report to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines.

Colonel Steele executed two deployments in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM during his time with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. He served as the Assistant Operations Officer during his first deployment, and the Commanding Officer of Company G during his second deployment.

Upon completion of his time with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Colonel Steele was reassigned to Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic (EWTGLANT). From 2008 to 2011, Colonel Steele served as an Amphibious Warfare Instructor. Upon completion of his tour at EWTGLANT, Colonel Steele attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia. He then received orders to report to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines for service as the Battalion Executive Officer.

Colonel Steele served as the Executive Officer for Battalion Landing Team 1/4 from 2012 to 2014 and completed a WESTPAC deployment in support of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Upon completion of this tour, he was ordered to report to the 13th MEU Command Element, where he served as the Executive Officer and Operations Officer. Prior to the execution of his second deployment in support of the MEU, Colonel Steele was promoted and ordered to report to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines for service as the commanding officer.

Colonel Steele commanded 2/7 from June 2015, to December 2016. During this time, the battalion deployed as the Ground Combat Element (GCE) in support of the newly formed Special Purpose Marine Air / Ground Task Force, Crisis Response, Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC). Upon completion of his tour with 7th Marines, Colonel Steele attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

From 2018 to 2020, Colonel Steele served as the Special Plans Branch Chief within NORAD and USNORTHCOM’s Strategy, Policy, and Plans Directorate. Upon completion of this tour, Colonel Steele received orders to report to III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. From 2020, to 2021, he served as the III MEF Current Operations Officer. In June 2021, Colonel Steele returned to 1st Marine Division to assume command of 5th Marine Regiment.

Sergeant Major Kirkby is a native of LaFargeville, New York. He reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC for Basic Training in August of 1998. He was assigned Military Occupational Specialty of 0111 and reported to Personnel Administrative School, Camp Johnson, NC. Upon graduation he received orders to S1 Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.

In November 2002, SgtMaj Kirkby was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and received Regimental Special Orders to serve as the Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge for Recruit Processing Company, Support Battalion.

In July 2003, SgtMaj Kirkby reported as a student to Drill Instructor School, Parris Island, SC. Following graduation he attended Marine Corps Martial Arts Green Belt Instructor Course training where he received his instructor tab. He was then assigned to Golf Company, Second Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and a Series Gunnery Sergeant. In January 2006 he was Special Duty Assignment selected for and meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

In February 2007, SgtMaj Kirkby reported to Camp Courtney, 3D Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan where he served as the Division Staff Secretary Admin Chief, and later as the G1 Administrative Chief. In October 2008 he deployed as the Command Element Administrative Chief for 3D Marine Regiment to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. While deployed he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in March 2009. Upon redeployment, he was assigned as the 3D Marine Division, G1 Adjutant Chief.

As his Okinawa tour was coming to an end, he was selected to serve as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor (AMOI) for the Naval ROTC Cornell University. While assigned as the AMOI he spent his summers at Officer Candidate School where he served as a Sergeant Instructor and Platoon Sergeant Instructor for four different platoons.

In September 2013, SgtMaj Kirkby received orders to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, SC where he was assigned as the Administrative Chief, Squadron Gunnery Sergeant, and for a period of time the Funeral Detail Staff Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge. In the winter of 2014, he was selected to the rank of First Sergeant, and promoted January 2015.

SgtMaj Kirkby reported to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA in February 2015, where he was assigned as the First Sergeant for Diablo Company and deployed with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (V31), Battalion Landing Team, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Anchorage. Following deployment, he served as the company First Sergeant for Charlie Company and later as the Headquarters & Service Company First Sergeant. In the fall of 2018, he was selected for the rank of Sergeant Major, and promoted February 2019.

In February 2019, SgtMaj Kirkby reported for duty as the Sergeant Major for Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Miramar, CA. During his tour he deployed to Kuwait as the Aviation Combat Element, Sergeant Major, while attached to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 20.2.

From 8 June 2021 to 14 October 2022, SgtMaj Kirkby served as the SgtMaj for Combat Instructor Battalion, The Basic School, Quantico, VA.

On 16 November 2022, SgtMaj Kirkby assumed his current duties as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of 5th Marine Regiment.

Sergeant Major Kirkby’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars. He is married to Ronda Kirkby, Sergeant Major, United States Marine Corps. He has one child, Amber Kirkby, Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps.