Kili Class
2023 Conquering Kili Class
Role
U.S. Army Reserve
Location
Cleveland, OH
Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Major (P) Christopher Farrenholz, had aspired from the age of four to be a military officer. In 2003, upon graduation from the Capital University ROTC program, that goal became a reality as he commissioned a field artillery officer in the United States Army. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom shortly thereafter. Over the course of two combat deployments, he served in Baghdad, Karbala, Tal A’far and Ramadi as an Information Operations Officer and Combat Logistics Patrol Commander. His career has taken him all over the world, serving in various roles in places such as Russia, Korea, Germany, the Dominican Republic, Scotland, Kuwait, Qatar and Antarctica, in addition to, twelve stateside posts. Christopher continues to serve to this day in the 2nd Psychological Operations Group in the US Army Reserve.
Christopher works for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the Cleveland Regional Office providing our nation’s Veterans with compensation claim support as the supervisor of a team of Veteran’s Service Representatives.
He holds a Master of Science in International and European Politics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland where he wrote his dissertation on counterinsurgency operations in Iraq.
An avid traveler, Christopher has lived in ten countries on five continents, while having visited all 50 states and over 70 countries. A passionate sports and outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys being a Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers season ticket holder, staying active outside hiking, snowboarding, and kayaking while taking in all that life can offer. He also volunteers his time with Cleveland Metroparks instructing novice sailing, rock climbing, mountain biking and other outdoor pursuit courses and activities.
Climbing in honor of SPC Vincent J Pomante III, 2LT Leonard Cowherd, SPC Philip I. Spakosky and the many others lost in conflict.
Each new Conquering Kili class accepts the challenge to embark for the summit, a walk that represents the miles that many African women journey on a daily basis to fetch water for their families. While training for the climb, each team member works to raise funds and transform communities through the gift of clean water.