VOORHEESVILLE — New York Army National Guard Col. Christopher Guilmette, a Voorheesville resident, is the new commander of the 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment, headquartered at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan.

The Digital Liaison Detachment, or DLD for short, works to coordinate, communicate, and facilitate all aspects of military operations at higher level headquarters. 

Guilmette has served in the Army National Guard since 1997, when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Maryland Army National Guard. He joined the New York Army National Guard in 2005.

In civilian life, Guilmette works as a professional engineer with Iron Mountain Data Centers.

Guilmette and his wife, Kelly, have three children.

Guilmette has served as an engineer company commander for the 121st Engineer Battalion; as an intelligence officer, plans officer, and operations officer for the 204th Engineer Battalion; as liaison officer for the 42nd Infantry Division; as commander of the 204th Engineer Battalion; and as chief of Plans for the 42nd.

From 2010 to 2013 he served as the Brigade Engineer for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse. This included an active duty deployment to Kuwait in 2012.

Guilmette recently returned from a deployment with the 42nd Infantry Division where he served as the Chief of Protection and led the Division's Force Health Protection response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guilmette holds a bachelor of science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses at the Combined Arms Staff Services School. In 2018, he earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, and the Maryland National Guard Outstanding Unit Award.

He replaces Col. Todd Bookless, who took command of the Digital Liaison Detachment in 2018. Bookless is going on active duty with the military’s Northern Command in Colorado, Springs.