COL Christopher Dempsey Deputy Commanding Officer - Support
Colonel Christopher Dempsey, a native of Fairfax, Virginia, was commissioned as an Armor Officer upon graduating from the United States Military Academy in May 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
He began his career at Fort Hood, Texas, serving as a Tank Platoon Leader and Scout Platoon Leader in B Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Following completion of the Armor Captains’ Career Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he served as the Battalion S-4 for 2d Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 3d Brigade, 1st Armored Division, both in garrison and during deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After redeployment, he commanded the Brigade Reconnaissance Troop and later N Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He was subsequently selected to serve as an instructor at the United States Military Academy.
Colonel Dempsey earned a Master of Arts in History from North Carolina State University and went on to teach in the Department of History at West Point. Following his assignment at the Academy, he deployed to Afghanistan with the 1st Infantry Division, where he served on the Division Staff in the CJ35 office. Upon redeployment, he served as the Squadron S3 for 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Brigade S3 for 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and later as the Executive Officer for 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
He was subsequently assigned to the Joint Staff, where he served in the J33 on Operations Team 1 and later as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff.
Colonel Dempsey commanded the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division—the Army’s oldest tank battalion—which included a deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Following battalion command, he served briefly as Executive Officer to the Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division before attending the Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program at Fort Leavenworth. Upon graduation, he served as the G-3/5/7 for the Combined Arms Center.
From November 2022 to June 2025, Colonel Dempsey commanded the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. He then went on to serve as the Chief of Staff of the 1st Cavalry Division until July 2026.
Currently Colonel Dempsey serves as the Deputy Commanding Officer – Support for the 3rd Infantry Division.