Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Lieutenant Colonel Christine M. Houser

LtCol Houser is a native of Garden City, New York. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2001 and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. After graduating from flight school in August 2003, she was designated a Naval Flight Officer from VT-86 in Pensacola, FL. Upon completion of the FRS with the VMFAT-101 “Sharpshooters” in Miramar, CA in the F/A-18 Hornet, she reported to the VMFA(AW)-332 “Moonlighters” in Beaufort, SC from 2004-2007.

During this tour she deployed to Al Asad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, followed by a second deployment to Fallujah, Iraq with II MEF as the OPSEC Officer and Iraqi Women’s Engagement Officer. LtCol Houser was then assigned to the VMFA(AW)-121 “Green Knights” in Miramar, CA from 2007-2010. Here she graduated from the MAWTS-1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor course and was designated a WTI. During this tour, she deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan twice for Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and served as the Assistant Maintenance Officer, Training Officer, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor Officer. LtCol Houser then reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS)-372 “Diamondbacks” in Camp Pendleton, CA from 2010-2012 and served as the Airfield Operations Company Commander and Operations Officer.

Following this tour, she deployed immediately with 3rd MAW in 2012 as the Fixed Wing Tasker in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Following the deployment she joined the VMFA(AW)-225 “Vikings”, from 2013-2015, and completed two deployments to Bahrain and Japan. During this tour, she served as the Academics Officer and Operations Officer. LtCol Houser then proceeded to joint duty at United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) in Omaha, NE from 2015- 2018. She served as the Joint Fires Element Operations Officer, J3N Executive Assistant Officer and Joint Fires Element Plans Branch Chief. While here, she completed Joint Professional Military Education II and was designated a Joint Duty Qualified Officer.

From 2018-2020 she was assigned to Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific (EWTGPAC) as the N35 Tactical Aviation Division Head in charge of Tactical Air Control Party and Joint Fires Observer courses and achieved the designation as a Joint Tactical Air Controller, Joint Tactical Air Controller Instructor and Joint Tactical Air Controller Evaluator. During this time, she graduated from the Naval Post Graduate School Distance Learning program with a Master of Science Degree in Systems Analysis.

Throughout her career LtCol Houser has actively participated in multiple All Armed Forces athletic programs. She has participated in the All Marine’s Basketball Team three times, All Armed Forces Basketball Team once and won the Armed Forces Female Master’s division for the All Marine Triathlon Team. In 2011 she was recognized as the Marine Corps Female Athlete of the Year. LtCol Houser took
command of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Miramar on 21 May 2020. LtCol Houser has accumulated over 1930 hours in the F-18 and her designations include Weapons Tactics Instructor, Air Mission Commander, Flight Lead Standardization Evaluator, and Forward Air Controller (Airborne), and over 151 hours in the UC-12W as a Qualified Observer (QO).

Her personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Strike Flight Numeral six, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award), Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Navy  Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award). 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar