The No. 2 officer at a U.S. Army Special Operations Command subordinate brigade is facing charges of physical abuse against a woman in North Carolina, according to court documents.
Lt. Col. Mark Christensen, deputy commander of the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, is charged with felony assault by strangulation and misdemeanor strangulation. The charges are based on an altercation with a romantic partner, U.S. Army W.T.F.! Moments reported Thursday.
A spokeswoman for 1st Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, confirmed Christensen’s identity to Army Times.
“Lt. Col. Mark Christensen is a member of a unit in the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne),” Maj. Beth Riordan said in a statement. “We take allegations of personal misconduct seriously, and this case is currently under investigation. In order to protect the legal process, we will not release any information until the investigation is complete.”
Riordan declined to disclose Christensen’s current position at USASOC, including if he had been suspended or relieved during the investigation.
Christensen is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 5, according to North Carolina court records.
Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.
