{{Short description|American government official}} {{distinguish|Christoph Maier}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Christopher Maier | image = Christopher P. Maier.jpg | office = Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict | president = Joe Biden | term_start = August 12, 2021 | term_end = January 20, 2025 | preceded = Owen West | successor = Colby Jenkins (acting) <br> Derrick Anderson | birth_name = Christopher Paul Maier<ref name=confirmation/> | birth_date = | birth_place = | education = | nickname = | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{Air force|United States|size=23px}} | service_years = | rank = | unit = Air National Guard | caption = Official portrait, 2021 }}
'''Christopher Paul Maier''' is an American government official who had served the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. He previously served as the Principal Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.
== Early life and education==
Maier earned degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and The Fletcher School at Tufts University.<ref name="WHBio">{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2021 |title=President Biden Announces Key Administration Nominations in National Security |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/23/president-biden-announces-key-administration-nominations-in-national-security/ |access-date=June 3, 2021 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
==Military career==
He serves as an officer in the Air National Guard.<ref name="WHBio" />
==Government service==
Maier began his government career as an intelligence analyst on Middle East and Africa issues. From March 2017 to November 2020 he led the Defeat-ISIS Task Force charged with integrating Department of Defense efforts in the campaign to achieve the enduring defeat of ISIS, until he was asked to resign by the Trump administration after the 2020 United States presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |date=November 30, 2020 |title=Pentagon shake-up continues as another top official departs |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/30/politics/pentagon-official-departs/index.html |access-date=June 3, 2021 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Schmitt |first1=Eric |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Another Official Is Ousted From the Pentagon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/us/politics/pentagon-firing.html |access-date=June 3, 2021 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Maier was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism in the Obama administration.<ref name="WHBio" /> He previously served in different positions within the National Counterterrorism Center, including Senior Advisor to the Director, Chief of Strategic Assessments and Regional Planning, and Chief of Staff in the Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning.<ref name="DefBio">{{Cite web |title=Christopher P. Maier: Director, Defeat-ISIS Task Force Office of the Secretary of Defense |url=https://www.defense.gov/Our-Story/Biographies/Biography/Article/612604/director-defeat-isis-task-force-office-of-the-secretary-of-defense/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603050240/https://www.defense.gov/Our-Story/Biographies/Biography/Article/612604/director-defeat-isis-task-force-office-of-the-secretary-of-defense/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |access-date=June 3, 2021 |website=United States Department of Defense |language=en-US}}</ref> Maier was detailed from 2009 to 2013 to the National Security Council staff, where he authored the 2011 National Strategy for Counterterrorism.<ref name="WHBio" />
=== Nomination as Assistant Secretary of Defense ===
In January 2021, it was reported that Maier would be brought back by the Biden administration as the acting principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seligman |first=Lara |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Biden to bring back fired Pentagon official who led anti-ISIS effort |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/18/joe-biden-brings-back-pentagon-official-460175 |access-date=June 3, 2021 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> On April 23, 2021, President Joe Biden announced Maier as his nominee to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.<ref name="WHBio" /> He testified before the Senate Committee on Armed Services on May 27, 2021, and was confirmed by voice vote of the full Senate on August 7, 2021.<ref name=confirmation>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/487 |title=PN487 — Christopher Paul Maier — Department of Defense — 117th Congress (2021-2022) |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> He assumed office on August 12, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/key_officials/KeyOfficials09-01-21.pdf |title=Department of Defense Key Officials September 1947–September 2021 |date=September 1, 2021 |publisher=Historical Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense |access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{C-SPAN}} *[https://archive.today/20201202165134/https://www.defense.gov/Our-Story/Biographies/Biography/Article/612604/christopher-p-maier/ Official Biography at the Department of Defense]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Maier, Christopher}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni Category:United States Air Force officers Category:The Fletcher School at Tufts University alumni Category:United States National Security Council staffers Category:United States assistant secretaries of defense Category:Biden administration personnel