COL Christopher R. Danbeck
Deputy Director, Installation Management Command Directorate - Europe
Col. Christopher Danbeck hails from Connecticut. He graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Boston University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor in 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Masters of International Security Policy from Columbia University.
Col. Danbeck’s first assignment was with 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, the Divisional Cavalry Squadron of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He served as Assistant Squadron Intelligence Officer, Tank and Scout Platoon Leader, Cavalry Troop Executive Officer and Assistant Operations Officer.
Upon completion of the Infantry Captains Career Course Col. Danbeck served as the Squadron Adjutant and Assistant Operations Officer in 2d Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, LA. In 2003 he deployed with the Squadron in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he took command of F Troop, 2/2 ACR in Baghdad.
After departing Fort Polk, Col. Danbeck attended Columbia University in the City of New York in preparation for an assignment at the United States Military Academy’s Department of Social Sciences as an Assistant Professor, teaching International Relations and Middle East Politics.
Following graduation from the Command and General Staff College Col. Danbeck was assigned to 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas as the Battalion Operations Officer and deployed to Operation NEW DAWN serving for a year in Northern Baghdad. Upon return he assumed duties as the 2d Armored Brigade Combat Team’s Operations Officer and subsequently as the Chief, Commanders Initiatives Group for the Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division.
He departed Fort Riley for service in the Pentagon in the Office of the Chief, Legislative Liaison, responsible for the Training and Operations portfolio. In 2016, Col. Danbeck assumed command of 1st Squadron, 11th Cavalry Regiment, “Ironhorse,” a part of the opposing force Regiment at the National Training Center where he participated in the training and development of 19 Brigade Combat Teams.
Following Senior Service College at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, Col. Danbeck spent a year in San Antonio as the Installation Management Command’s Commanding General’s Executive Officer. Prior to becoming the Deputy Director for IMCOM-Europe in July 2022, Col. Danbeck served as the Garrison Commander for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria.
Col. Danbeck’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star (2 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), US Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, US Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), US Army President Unit Citation (2 OLC), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expedition Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, US Army Service Ribbon, US Army Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 2), and the Army Staff Badge. He also has earned the Parachutist Badge along with the Combat Action Badge.