Colonel Christmas was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 7 July 1967. He is a graduate of Elon College where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Upon completion of The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course at Quantico, Virginia in November of 1990, he reported to 2d Battalion, 4th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served as Rifle Platoon Commander during Desert Shield/Storm and 24th MEU (SOC) LF6F Deployment; Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander during Bridgeport, CAX, and UDP to Okinawa, Japan.
In January of 1994, Colonel Christmas was assigned to The Basic School, Quantico Virginia where he served as Offensive Instructor and Infantry Officers Course Instructor until 1997 when he was selected to attend the Infantry Officers Advanced Course in Fort Benning, Georgia.
Upon graduation, Colonel Christmas was assigned to 2d Battalion. 2d Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in January 1998. Colonel Christmas served as Assistant Operations Officer during the 22d MEU (SOC) LF6F deployment. Upon return from the deployment, Colonel Christmas served as Echo Company Commander and deployed to Panama and returned to become the Warlord Operations Officer. As the Operations Officer, Colonel Christmas deployed to CAX and 26th MEU (SOC) LF6F.
In August of 200l, Colonel Christmas was assigned to Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He graduated in June of 2002 with a Masters in Military Science.
In July of 2002, Colonel Christmas was assigned to Recruiting Station New Orleans as the Commanding Officer. He completed his tour in July of 2005 and was assigned to RCT-2 at Camp Ripper, Iraq. He immediately deployed to Iraq in support of OIF where he served as the Future Operations Officer and Executive Officer.
In August of 2006, Colonel Christmas took Command of First Battalion, Second Marines. He deployed the Battalion to Iraq in February 2007 in support of combat operations in Western Al Anbar Province. He then became the 2d Marine Division Operations Officer until being selected to Top Level School.
In June of 2008, Colonel Christmas was assigned to the Air War College. He graduated in June of 2009 with a Masters in Strategic Studies.
In July of 2009, Colonel Christmas was assigned to USSOCOM where he is the Deliberate Plans Branch Chief and was the lead for writing DOD’s Global Campaign Plan for Countering Terrorism.
In June 2012, Colonel Christmas finished his tour with USSOCOM and was selected and excited to take command of the 22d MEU.
Colonel Christmas' decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star with "V" and gold star, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and eight Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.