Colonel (COL) Christian C. Hofer will be retired on May 1st, 2026, after 38 years of military service as the Military Infectious Disease Portfolio Manager for the Defense Health Agency serving at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
COL Hofer is a native of Whitewater, Wisconsin and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1988 serving as a Nuclear Propulsion Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician on three different operational and training nuclear propulsion plants. During his active-duty Navy service, he completed two Western Pacific deployments on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in support of Operation Restore Hope, Operation Vigilant Sentinel, and Southern Watch along with two assignments as a nuclear propulsion prototype instructor. COL Hofer transitioned to the Navy Reserves in 1999 and completed the Basic Reserve Intelligence Training, reclassified as an Intelligence Specialist, and served at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Mayport Naval Station in Florida. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant in 2002.
COL Hofer graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Animal Science and then received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. Upon graduation, he returned to active military service in the U.S. Army and was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC where he deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2007-2011, he was the Command Veterinarian for the Special Warfare Medical Group (Airborne) at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center. COL Hofer completed his residency training in Laboratory Animal Medicine and a Master of Science in Comparative and Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2014 at the Ohio State University and became a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine in 2017. He served at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases from 2014-2017 and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 2017-2020. He then served as the Command Veterinarian and Director of the Veterinary Review Office for the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base from 2020-2023.
COL Hofer’s military education includes Systems Engineering Management, Fundamentals of Systems Acquisitions Management, Fundamentals of Veterinary Global Health Engagement Course, Intermediate Level Education Resident Course, Medical Management of Chemical/Biological Casualties Course, and Contracting Officer’s Representative Course. He earned the Combat Medic Badge and his awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal (2nd award), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Navy Battle “E” Award, the Navy Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal (2nd award), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2nd award), the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the NATO medal. COL Hofer was also recognized with the BG Charles V.L. Elia Veterinary Excellence Medallion at graduation from Officer Basic Course in 2005. He was inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit and recognized by the Army Surgeon General with the 9A Proficiency Designation in 2023.
COL Hofer and his wife of 19 years, Dr. Jennifer Hofer, are professional scuba divers and like to travel the world sharing their diving experiences. He has a 27-year-old son, Jacob, from a previous marriage. He and Jennifer are moving back to Gainesville, Florida where Jennifer will be taking a faculty position as an Associate Professor in Medical Oncology at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. They are both looking forward to expanding their scuba instruction and travel business, Best Life Dive Adventures, Inc. Christian’s mom, Sherry, lives in Wellington, FL and his brother, Jason, lives in Ladysmith, WI.
