Colonel (Ret.) Chris Toner served over 29 years in the United States Army, culminating in command roles that placed him at the forefront of America’s longest war. A decorated wounded combat veteran, Toner led Task Force Catamount through the longest deployment in the twenty-year history of the Afghan War—484 days of continuous combat and over 565 engagements with the enemy. Over the course of his career, he spent more than 40 months in Afghanistan where he held senior command and leadership positions.
Colonel Toner’s battlefield leadership has been widely recognized. He has been interviewed on and off the battlefield by national and international media and has testified before Congress on the Army’s Warrior Care and Transition Program. His work in veteran care, suicide prevention, and leadership development has made him a trusted voice within the military and veteran communities.
His writing is grounded in thousands of pages of battlefield reports, duty logs, and personal journals, and enriched by firsthand interviews with soldiers under his command. Toner brings not only the strategic perspective of a senior officer, but the emotional insight of someone who led men and women through some of the war’s most harrowing moments—and who continues to carry their stories forward.
Colonel Toner now dedicates his post-military career to advocating for veterans, speaking on leadership and resilience, and honoring the legacy of those who served.