Washington, D.C. –
In the heart of Washington, D.C., on 14 October 2025, a Soldier came full circle.
Nearly 24 years after raising his right hand for the very first time, Christopher D. Barrett—who once jumped from aircraft as an Airborne Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division—took the Oath of Commission as a United States Army Major. His original enlistment on 10 October 2001 set him on a path he could never have imagined, including a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and an honorable discharge in 2005.
Looking back, MAJ Barrett credits those early years for shaping his character. The discipline, resilience, and purpose forged in those moments, in his own words, “have guided every step of my professional journey since.”
That journey didn’t just rise—it soared.
After separating from Active Duty, he earned his Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude in 2009, completed medical school at Washington University in St. Louis in 2012, and went on to train in some of the most prestigious programs in the country. He finished his General Surgery Residency at Harvard, completed an integrated research fellowship at MIT in 2021, and trained further in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Boston University in 2022.
Today, MAJ Barrett serves at the University of Nebraska Medical Center as a Trauma Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery and Cellular & Integrative Physiology, with a Graduate Faculty appointment. He leads an NIH-funded research lab focused on solving some of the most urgent problems in trauma medicine—hemorrhage control, trauma-induced coagulopathy, end-organ failure, and the molecular pathways that determine survival after critical injury. His work directly impacts the future of military medicine and the survivability of America’s warfighters.
His influence extends far beyond the operating room. He sits on the Department of Defense’s CDMRP Combat Readiness–Medical Research Program study section, recently published an advocacy manuscript on preserving the U.S. Military Joint Trauma System in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and continues to contribute to high-impact scientific journals such as CHEST and the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasias. His research portfolio represents dozens of contributions dedicated to improving outcomes for injured and critically ill patients.
Despite the accolades, he’s never forgotten where it all started: a young infantryman determined to take care of his team.
Returning to military service has been his intention all along—a promise made quietly but never forgotten. On 14 October, he honored that promise at the Army Navy Club, surrounded by his family, mentors, and the battle buddies who once led him and fought alongside him. Among them:
CSM Thinh T. Huynh (DEVCOM CSM), his former squad leader
COL R. Ryan Bell, Commander, 3rd BCT, 101st ABN DIV, his former platoon leader, who administered the Oath of Commission
Dozens of colleagues, friends, and retired leaders who shaped his journey
CSM Huynh rendered the first salute and received a coin from MAJ Barrett—a moment thick with history, respect, and the kind of pride only Infantry veterans truly understand.
For those of us privileged to attend—including SFC Alexander Pee, who shepherded MAJ Barrett’s return to service—it was an unforgettable reminder of what commitment looks like when it spans decades, hardships, and personal triumphs.
MAJ Barrett is now assigned to the 7450th Medical Operations Readiness Unit in Aurora, Colorado, where he will continue shaping the future of battlefield medicine and preparing the Army’s medical force for tomorrow’s challenges.
A journey that began with airborne wings and dusty boots now continues with a commission, a scalpel, and a purpose as sharp as ever.