John Christianson

Colonel John Christianson is an active-duty Air Force officer and current military fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He joins CSIS after serving as the division chief for integration, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Directorate, U.S. Air Force headquarters, where he led development of the Air Force’s Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Operating Concept. Previously, he commanded at the squadron level and has extensive experience in operational planning and strategy development. Col. Christianson is a graduate of the U.S. Navy’s Electronic Attack Weapons School and the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies. He holds a master navigator rating with over 2,200 hours in the F-15E, EA-18G, EA-6B, and B-1B. He has deployed multiple times to support operations in the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central America. His research interests include competition and conflict within the electromagnetic spectrum, European security, and national and military strategy development. Col. Christianson holds master’s degrees in international relations, military operational art and science, and military art and science, as well as a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs and history.