Former Northville resident Major Christopher Jensen takes command of Kingston-based National Guard Battalion

LATHAM, NY (07/31/2015)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Maj. Christopher Jensen, a former infantry officer, combat veteran from Iraq and former Northville esident, took command of the Kingston-based 104th Military Police Battalion on Sunday July 19.

Jensen took over from Lt. Col. Craig Maceri, a West Point graduate and also a veteran of the Iraq. Maceri has been selected to attend the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennslyvania.

Jensen, who now lives in Kingston graduated from SUNY Empire State College with a BA in Criminal Justice. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1988 before transferring to the New York Army National Guard in 1991, graduating from the Officer Candidate School in 1998.

He is a full-time National Guard officer.

His military education includes the Infantry Officer' Basic Course, and Infantry Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College resident course, Simulations Operations Course, and the Military Police Officer Transition course.

His military assignments include Rifle Platoon Leader for Company C, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, Battalion Support Platoon Leader and Personnel Officer. He deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a Company Commander for Company B, 2-108th Infantry and upon his return from deployment, served as a Company Commander for Company C, 2-108th Infantry. Later he served as the operations officer for the 2-108th Infantry. Other assignments include Assistant Plans Officer, and Assistant Mobilization Officer in the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, and most recently, as the Executive Officer for the 104th Military Police Battalion.

His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Army Reserve Component Achievements Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon and Combat Infantryman's Badge as well as numerous New York State awards.

Jensen is married to the former Patricia White, of Pensacola, Florida and they have three children– Christopher, Megan and Zachary.

The 104th Military Police Battalion is a headquarters unit designed to provide command and control for two to five Military Police Companies in a combat zone. The unit served in Iraq in 2007 and 2008 where the Soldiers were responsible for overseeing detainee camp operations. The unit deployed troops to Washington D.C. in January 2009 to assist in providing security and crowd control during the presidential inauguration.

Members of the battalion also responded to the New York National Guard callup of forces to assist communities devastated by Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

The battalion traces its lineage back to the Poughkeepsie Militia of the Revolutionary War. The 104th MP Battalion was created in 2006 from the 156th Field Artillery Battalion when the New York Army National Guard reorganized.