Kris Poirier
Program Manager
Born and raised in Vermont, Kris enjoyed a typical childhood growing up in The Green Mountains. His father instilled in him his love of all things outdoors, spending time together hunting, fishing, and camping with the family every chance they had. Although he did not grow up with a military influence around him, other than both grandfathers serving, he recognized the value of hard work while watching his parents and other family members put in the effort for what they had in their small community.
The military wasn’t always Kris’s calling, but he found himself joining a peacetime Army in 1995, enlisting in the Vermont Army National Guard as a Field Artilleryman. While serving in the VTANG, Kris attended the University of Vermont, and in 2000, he graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and received an active duty ROTC commission, becoming a Military Police Officer. His first duty assignment was in Germany, serving in the 95th Military Police Battalion in both Mannheim and Hanau, Germany. His goal was to serve for a few years and then rejoin the civilian world as a Game Warden in Vermont.
Like so many of his fellow service members, the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, changed Kris’s plans. In 2003, he attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection, followed by the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning his Green Beret in March 2006. He was subsequently assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group, serving as a Detachment Commander and Operations Officer in the 2nd Battalion. His following assignments included HQDA G-3/5/7 at the Pentagon, Special Operations Command South, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and Installation Management Command at Fort Wainwright.
Along the way, Kris met his wife Meghan, a Minnesota native and West Point graduate who served alongside Kris at multiple locations and was the backbone of their family through multiple deployments and moves over the years. They have two wonderful children and often reflect on the challenges of raising a family as a dual-military couple in a wartime environment, a struggle they shared with many military families and do not take lightly or for granted.
With Montana being the end goal, Kris and his wife bought land in 2011, wanting to raise their children in the same small-town environment they enjoyed growing up in. Their long dreamed about Montana life became a reality on Memorial Day weekend, 2021, and the Gallatin Valley became their new forever home. They spend their free time raising goats, ducks, turkeys, quail, and their two dogs, Max and Kaida. With all of these under their care, they still find time to attend all the sporting events of their now teenage children and all of the beauty Montana has to offer.
Looking back on a long, unique journey, Kris believes it was all well worth it and remembers his time at 5th Group as the most impactful, serving alongside some of the most outstanding Americans he has ever known. He wants to live the rest of his life with his wife and kids, be proud of the work he does, and continue to support folks out there who are still on the front lines however he can.
