Lieutenant Colonel Christopher M. Heming joined the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in June 2011.

Lt. Col. Heming received his commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in May 1994 upon graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. His first assignment was at the Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., where he was responsible for the operational testing and evaluation of ground-based space surveillance systems used to identify, track and catalog space objects orbiting the earth. In 1997 he transferred to the Area Attack System Program Office of the Air Armament Center at Eglin AFB, Fla. where he was the lead engineer for the Sensor Fuzed Weapon and later the lead test engineer for the Joint Stand-off Weapon, both of which are area attack anti-armor air-to-ground munitions. His next assignment in 2000 was to a newly formed operating location of the Space & Missile Systems Center in Boulder, Colo. where he was the commander of Space Based Infrared System payload operations. He led the development and operational testing of the SBIRS ground system as a crew commander and was the lead engineer for the construction of a new facility for the conduct of SBIRS satellite and payload early on-orbit testing and operations.

His next assignment in 2003 was in the SIGINT Ground Systems Office of the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Va. He first served in the systems engineering division supporting multiple SIGINT satellite mission management and real-time control ground systems. He later served as Deputy Division Chief of the Enterprise Services Division responsible for the acquisition of worldwide intelligence capabilities and was the program manager for SIGINT satellite data storage and real-time command and control ground systems. In 2008 he transferred to 1st Air Force (AFNORTH) at Tyndall AFB, Fla. where he was responsible for the operations and management of Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers across eighteen states and territories providing subject matter expertise on Air Force capabilities for Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations. Furthermore, he provided guidance and support to military and civil leaders in planning and execution of consequence management following man-made and natural disasters as well as National Security Special Events.

Lt. Col. Heming holds a Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Lt. Col. Heming’s military education and training includes Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, Ala. and Air Command and Staff College by correspondence. He is certified in the following areas of the Departement of Defense Acquisition Professional Development Program: level three Systems Planning, Research, and Development Engineering; level two Program Management; and level one Test and Evaluation. Lt. Col. Heming is also certified level three in the Air Force Space Professional Development Program.

Lt. Col. Heming’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.