Cris has an undeniable record of exemplary service to God, country, family and community. A first generation American, he was born to immigrant parents who taught him the core values of hard work, commitment, service and love of country. He is a lifelong Republican and a true Conservative. Cris attended the University of Florida where he graduated with Honors with a degree in Land Surveying from the College of Civil Engineering, and he was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. Attending the University of Florida on an NROTC scholarship, he became the unit’s Battalion Commander. He achieved the Carl A. Spaatz award from the Civil Air Patrol, the highest achievable cadet award. In addition, he was presented with the Daedalian Flight Scholarship Award for private flight licensing.
Upon graduation, he was commissioned an Officer of Marines. After completion of the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia he was assigned to Pensacola for flight training where he earned his Naval Flight Officers wings in April of 1986. After completion of advanced training at NAS Whidbey Island he was designated a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-6 Intruder. He joined the “Fighting Bengals” in Cherry Point, North Carolina and completed 3 deployments - 2 Western Pacific deployments and Desert Shield/Desert Storm - and accumulated over 1300 flight hours and 30 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal with numeral “3” and 2 Navy Commendation Medals, one with Combat “V”. Upon return from overseas, he was assigned as Marine Officer Instructor and Assistant Professor of Naval Science of the Chicago Consortium - Northwestern University and Illinois Institute of Technology. He instructed as platoon leader at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia. He taught Evolution of Warfare and Amphibious Warfare preparing future officers with real world scenario training and exercises.
In 1994, he entered the civilian world and began a 20 year career as a real estate developer and small business owner. He has completed multiple residential and commercial projects in the Chicago metropolitan area. He was a volunteer and served on the National Advisory Board of The Women’s Center, a crisis pregnancy center in Chicago.
In 2005, he co- founded the Wounded Heroes Foundation Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which assists returning injured veterans of The War on Terror. You can visit www.woundedheroesfund.net for further information and donations.
In 2009, Cris and his family moved to Pensacola, and he has been an active member of the community since.
Cris and his wife Lisa have been married for 30 years. They have three sons and five daughters. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe and most recently visited eastern Europe and Istanbul. He has a working knowledge of Spanish and Bulgarian. He is a lifetime member of the NRA and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). His hobbies include military history, fishing, hiking, walking at Pensacola Beach, and singing and playing guitar with his daughters.