Lt Col Chris Gay is an instructor of acquisition management at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. He develops and instructs service and product acquisition curriculum as a part of continuing education through the AFIT School of Systems and Logistics (AFIT/LS). Lt Col Gay was commissioned in September 1997 through the Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, AL. He has held various positions within the Air Force as a member of the acquisition corps over the past 24 years. He has been a deputy, division chief, program manager and project officer for multiple Air Force acquisition programs spanning a range of capabilities to include Intel, weapon, simulation, aircraft, unmanned systems, and aircraft maintenance services. Lt Col Gay was selected for AFIT/EN’s faculty pipeline and attended the University of Virginia where he earned a doctorate in Systems and Information Engineering in May 2017.
Lt Col Gay has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel. He returned in August 2021 from a one-year accompanied assignment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Defense-focused Master of Business Administration, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
2009 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence
2017 Doctorate of System Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two gold oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two gold oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and gold oak leave cluster
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 30, 1997
First Lieutenant September 30, 1999
Captain September 30, 2001
Major June 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2012