Command Sergeant Major Christopher Shaiko hails from Springfield, VA. He entered the United States Army in February 1998 as a Patriot System C2 Operator and later reclassified to an Armored Reconnaissance Specialist in 2000. CSM Shaiko has served in Armor, Cavalry and Infantry organizations throughout his career and has held every leadership position including Squad Leader, Section Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Operations Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Major. He arrived from Fort Irwin. California where he served as the Regimental Command Sergeant Major for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
His assignments include the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bliss, TX.; 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson CO.; 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Camp Garry Owen, Korea; 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, Fort Stewart, GA.; 1st Squadron, 38th Armor Regiment, 525th BfSB, Fort Liberty, NC.; 1st Squadron, 11th ACR, Fort Irwin, CA.; 1st Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Moore GA.; 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS.
His broadening assignments include positions as a Senior Observer Controller Trainer in 1st Squadron, 409th Regiment (CAV) (TS), Fort Knox, KY, and as the Senior Military Science Instructor at Iowa State University Army ROTC.
CSM Shaiko has two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and operational deployments in Kosovo and Poland.
CSM Shaiko's education includes all levels of NCOPDS, culminating with graduating from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 68 and the Nominative Leaders Course. He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Excelsior College, Albany, NY, and is currently working towards a Master's degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from University Texas at El Paso.
CSM Shaiko's awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Legion of Merit (one oak leaf cluster), Bronze Star Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (silver leaf cluster), Army Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral Six), NATO Medal (Kosovo), Iraq Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal (bronze star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. CSM Shaiko is also a recipient of the Order of Saint George Medal (Silver), the Order of Saint Maurice and the Order of Saint Barbara.