Christopher L. Bopp

Colonel Christopher L. Bopp serves as the Commanding Officer of the Navy ROTC unit at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He assumed this position after commanding Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Guam from May 2021 to July 2023, bringing over 25 years of active-duty Marine Corps experience to his role training future naval officers.

Colonel Bopp graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in History in 1996. While attending the US Army's Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University. His military education includes The Basic School, Infantry Officer Course, Expeditionary Warfare School, and Command and General Staff College.

With expertise spanning military leadership, naval science, and combat operations, Colonel Bopp's career has focused on expeditionary warfare and strategic planning. His operational experience includes commanding units during deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, serving on the Joint Staff, and planning roles for multiple combatant commands including CENTCOM and EUCOM.

• Legion of Merit with Gold Star
• Bronze Star Medal
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star
• Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 Gold Stars
• Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
• Combat Action Ribbon

As NROTC Commanding Officer, Colonel Bopp oversees the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program at The Citadel, responsible for the training, development, and commissioning of future naval officers. He leads a staff of military instructors and coordinates with university administration on ROTC matters, maintaining the unit's accreditation and ensuring midshipmen meet both academic and military requirements for commissioning.

Colonel Bopp commands the Navy ROTC unit housed in Jenkins Hall, which includes naval science instructors, staff officers, and approximately 100 midshipmen across all four class years. The program includes classroom instruction, leadership laboratories, physical training, and summer training cruises designed to prepare midshipmen for service as naval officers.