Brigadier General Christopher A. Hyman currently serves as the Director of Joint Staff of the South Carolina National Guard. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing and managing the development, execution, and evaluation of the South Carolina National Guard’s joint staff programs and policies pertaining to the command, control, and operations of homeland defense and support of civil authorities. He is also responsible for counterdrug and civil support operations, as well as natural disaster response in the state.
Hyman is originally from Florence, S.C. He enlisted in the South Carolina Army National Guard in 1988 as an Aircraft Structure Repairman in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 151 Aviation Battalion, Eastover, S.C. He graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. Hyman earned his commission through the South Carolina Palmetto Military Academy in 1996. He was branched into the Engineer Corps and was the First Honor Graduate of Class 47. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms & Services Staff School, Intermediate Level Education, Civil Support Skills Course, and Nuclear Counter Proliferation Course. Hyman is a graduate of the Army Senior Service College.
BG Hyman’s command positions include serving as Commander of Bravo Company, 178th Engineer Battalion, based in Fort Mill, S.C.; and as Commander of Charlie Battery, 3-178th Field Artillery Battalion, Hartsville, S.C.; Commander, 43rd Civil Support Team, West Columbia, S.C.; and Commander of the 122nd Engineer Battalion in Edgefield, S.C.
Other assignments include Platoon Leader, Charlie Company, 178th Engineer Battalion, Bishopville, S.C.; Support Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 178th Engineer Battalion, Rock Hill, S.C.; and Fire Direction Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters.
Additional roles include Section, 3-178 Field Artillery Battalion, Lancaster, S.C.; Assistant Professor of Military Science, University of South Carolina ROTC Department, Columbia, S.C.; Assistant Operations Officer, 59th Troop Command, Eastover, S.C.; Counterdrug Coordinator, Joint Force Headquarters, Columbia, S.C.; Plans and Operations Officer, 59th Troop Command, Eastover, S.C.; Executive Officer, 59th Troop Command, Eastover, S.C.; Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Columbia, S.C.; Chief of Staff, South Carolina Army National Guard, Columbia, S.C.; and Chief of Staff for Army National Guard Affairs, Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, S.C.
Hyman’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and an Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
BG Hyman is married to Gaye Welch Hyman of Florence, S.C. They have three children: Chase, Lillie Catherine, and Grant. The family resides in Lexington, S.C.