Meet Chris Gibson: Soldier, Scholar, Statesman

CHRIS GIBSON is a writer and analyst. He is the author of three books, The Spirit of Philadelphia: A Call to Recover the Founding Principles published by Routledge in May 2025, Rally Point: Five Tasks to Unite the Country and Revitalize the American Dream published by Twelve Books in 2017, and Securing the State: Reforming the National Security Decision Making Process at the Civil-Military Nexus published by Routledge in paperback in 2019 (the hardcover edition was initially published by Ashgate in 2008). He has also published numerous scholarly journal articles, opinion pieces, a book chapter and a book review. As an analyst, he has appeared on Fox, Newsmax, CSPAN and NPR, among other outlets.

Chris Gibson researching the Scottish Enlightenment in Scotland, Fall 2023

Chris Gibson as Siena College President

Gibson previously served as the 12th President of Siena College (2020-2023) and before that as the Stanley Kaplan Distinguished Visiting Professor of American Foreign Policy at Williams College (2017-2020). While in the military, Gibson had a tour teaching at West Point (1995-1998) and earned his War College credit as a Hoover National Security Affairs Fellow at Stanford University (2006-2007). Gibson earned a Master of Public Administration (1995), Master of Arts (1996) and Doctorate in Government (1998) from Cornell University. Additionally, he holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the State University of NY (2017). Gibson graduated magna cum laude from Siena College in 1986, earning his Bachelor of Arts in History.

Prior to his academic career, Gibson served as a Member of Congress serving upstate NY from 2011-2017, with committee assignments on Armed Services, Agriculture and Small Business. His distinguished congressional service was recognized by the Lugar Center in 2014 when he finished #1 in the country in the House of Representatives in their inaugural report on bipartisanship. After three terms in the US House, Gibson self-imposed term limits and moved to academia.

Congressman Gibson honoring a veteran

Chris Gibson with commander H.R. McMaster deployed in Iraq, 2005

Before the House of Representatives, Gibson served for 29 years in the US military, starting at the age of 17 as an infantry private in the New York Army National Guard before commissioning as an officer through Siena College ROTC and ultimately rising to the rank of Colonel in the Regular Army. His last duty assignment before retiring was as the Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division. While in the military he served four combat tours in Iraq (one of which was during the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991), and additional operational overseas tours with the NATO peace enforcement mission in Kosovo from 2001-2002, and with the UN humanitarian service mission to Haiti in 2010.

Among his military awards and decorations are two Legions of Merit, four Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge with Star, the Master Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab. In June 2000, Gibson was recognized with the General George C. Marshall award for being the #1 graduate of his Command & General Staff College class of over 1,000 field grade officers.

Chris and his wife Mary Jo, a licensed clinical social worker, have been married for over 28 years and have three adult children. They live in Kinderhook. He graduated from Ichabod Crane high school in Kinderhook, NY in 1982 where he was the co-captain and point guard of the varsity basketball team.

Chris Gibson cheering at a Siena College basketball game