Where did you serve and what did you do?

Senior Chief Constructionman (Seabee Combat Warfare/Fleet Marine Force) USNR (Ret) Christopher Kloiber grew up in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Gordon Technical High School. He studied at the University of Missouri-Rolla, earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In 1997, after a few years in the civilian workforce, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve as a Seabee in the Naval Construction Force. He reported to his first command, NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION TWO FIVE at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin as an Engineering Aid Third Class. There he trained in expeditionary construction and infantry combat skills. In 1999, he mobilized for active duty and reported to COMMANDER NAVAL SURFACE RESERVE FORCE, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES-MIDWEST at Great Lakes, Illinois, serving as Engineering Assistant. There he provided facilities management support to over 40 Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Centers. During that tour he advanced to Petty Officer Second Class. In 1999, he returned to NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION TWO FIVE, serving as a Fire Team Leader and Squad Leader. In 2002, he advanced to Petty Officer First Class, serving as a Training Petty Officer, Administration Petty Officer, Mortar Platoon Chief, and Detachment Assistant Officer in Charge. In 2004, he earned the Construction Safety Inspector Navy Enlisted Classification and served as a Safety Petty Officer. In 2005, he advanced to Chief Petty Officer and served as a Detachment Officer in Charge, preparing his 100-Sailor detachment for mobilization. In 2006, he mobilized for active duty as the Safety Officer, deploying to Kuwait and Iraq to provide construction and engineering support to the FIRST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE-FORWARD during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2006, he reported to FIRST NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT at Port Hueneme, California, serving as Safety Officer. There he conducted management assist visits, operational readiness inspections, and readiness-to-deploy evaluations of subordinate commands. He also participated in multiple joint-combined exercises in the South Korea and Germany. In 2008, he reported to NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND FAR EAST at COMMANDER FLEET ACTIVITIES CHINHAE, South Korea, serving as Training Chief, Construction Inspector, and Senior Enlisted Leader. He participated in two joint-combined exercises and advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2010. In 2010, he returned to NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION TWO FIVE, serving as Quality Control Chief. There he managed peacetime construction operations and supervised the construction inspection staff. In 2011, he mobilized for active duty with the TWENTY-SECOND NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT at Gulfport, Mississippi, deploying to Kuwait and Afghanistan to provide combat service support to the NATO International Security Assistance Force during Operation Enduring Freedom. There he served as a Current Operations Area Action Officer, managing missions to improve mobility, surviveability, and force protection for two joint battlespaces in Regional Command -South. In 2012, he reported to NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND, CONTINGENCY ENGINEERING UNIT at Washington Navy Yard, D.C., serving as Safety Officer and Assistant Command Fitness Leader. During this tour, he attended the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island. In 2016, he reported to NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION TWO TWO at Port Hueneme, California, serving as a Company Chief, Operations Chief, and Operations Manning Chief. In 2017, he mobilized for active duty, deploying to Niger as the Assistant Officer in Charge of Detachment SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND-FORWARD, NORTH AND WEST AFRICA, providing camp operational support for the Global War on Terrorism. Post-deployment, he served as the Mobilization Manager until transferring to the Retired Reserve in 2019. Senior Chief Kloiber’s personal decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards). His warfare designations include Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist and Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist.

How are you Still Serving?

Chris is a Safety Engineer with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Construction and Facilities Management, managing the safety program for design and construction projects in the Central Region. He is a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals and a certified Construction Health and Safety Technician. Chris is also an active member of Elkhorn WI Memorial Veterans of Foreign War Post 6375, currently as the Service Officer.

Why do you do it?

Chris enjoys serving others and sharing knowledge on the resources available to fellow veterans and VFW Post members. He also enjoys the camaraderie of the organization and the close-knit Elkhorn WI community.