Christopher Upton

Michael Upton graduated from the United States Military Academy in May 1994, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management and commissioning into the U.S. Army as an Aviation Officer. His first duty assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea, where he served as the EH-60 Quickfix Platoon Leader.

Following this assignment, Mr. Upton attended the Aviation Maintenance Manager’s Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Subsequently, he joined the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as Company Executive Officer for the maintenance company and Battalion Logistics Officer (S-4) under the 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, including a deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina. After completing the Aviation Captain’s Career Course and Combined Arms Services Staff School, Mr. Upton joined the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as the Battalion Administrative Officer (S-1) and Company Commander under the 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. Following company command in 2001, Mr. Upton left military service and began working as a defense industry contractor. His first position was with International Consultants, where he served as Deputy Program Manager providing onsite support to the Project Manager, Force Projection at the Detroit Arsenal, Michigan. Then, Mr. Upton accepted a position with VSE Corporation where he served as Department Manager and Business Development Manager of the company’s Michigan satellite office. While in Industry, Mr. Upton also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Lawrence Technological University. In 2009, Mr. Upton re-entered government service as a Department of the Army Civilian under the Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS). His acquisition assignments include Systems Acquisition Manager (SAM), Joint High-Speed Vessel; SAM, Light Capability Rough Terrain Forklift and All-Terrain Lifter Army System; Deputy Product Director, Army Watercraft Systems; and Deputy Product Manager, Combat Engineer/Material Handling Equipment. Mr. Upton has also completed the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Course and Civilian Education for Senior Leaders Course. He is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act-certified Advanced in Program Management and Practitioner in Engineering. In 2022, Mr. Upton graduated the U.S. Army’s Senior Service College Fellowship program, Defense Acquisition University. He most recently served as the Division Chief for Systems Engineering Planning and Management, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Ground Vehicle Systems Center at the Detroit Arsenal. He also serves as a certified executive coach supporting the U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, and U.S. Army Coaching Program. Mr. Upton’s awards and decorations include the Army Engineer Association Bronze de Fleury Medal, Department of the Army (DA) Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, DA Civilian Service Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award (PEO CS&CSS), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, NATO Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Aviator Badge.