About the author

Christopher Herndon

<p>Colonel Christopher V. Herndon, United States Army, (retired) is the founder of Herndon International, LLC, a consultancy company dedicated to forming enhanced security and disaster consequence management partnerships between clients in the United States and the Middle-East, Africa and Europe.&nbsp;Chris served on active duty in the United States Army, for over 30 years as an Armor and Middle-East Foreign Area Officer in South Korea, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey, Germany and the United States. Additionally, he served temporally in Angola, Chad, Djibouti, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. During his few assignments within the United States, he served on the Army Staff, Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Chris earned a Master of International Affairs degree and an Advanced Certificate in Middle-East Studies from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University (NY). He also studied International Human Rights Law at Oxford University (UK). He was&nbsp;a non-resident Fellow at the National War College (Washington, D.C.) and has been a guest lecturer at the Austrian Defense College, University of Babylon, Baltic Defense College, Hilla University, Naval Postgraduate School, University of Oslo, Royal United Services Institute, Ursinus College, and the Virginia Military Institute. He has earned several honors and awards including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Combat Action Badge. In 2015, he was awarded The Kiley Award for Best Features Article from the Joint Force Quarterly for the article (co-authored by Joris D. Kila) <em>Military Involvement in Cultural Property Protection: An Overview</em>. The Wicked Problem of Cultural Heritage and Conflict was awarded s Silver Medal by&nbsp;the Military Writers Society of America in 2019.&nbsp;Chris is active in several veteran and patriotic organizations including the Society of the Cincinnati, the American Legion where he is the Past&nbsp;Commander of National Defense Post # 46 and the Past&nbsp;Department Commander&nbsp;of the District of Columbia and the&nbsp;Military Order of Foreign Wars where he is the current Commander-General (National Commander).&nbsp;</p>