TopVet: Captain Christopher P. Boylan

Christopher Boylan, Senior NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority Executive and a Captain in The Naval Reserves balances an extraordinarily successful professional career with a deep commitment to continuing service to our country.

"The Navy gets so much in your blood, it really defines who you are," he said in an interview, describing the challenges of balance. "And most of us in the Reserve don’t do it for the money, or the prestige, but I think we do think most of us do it for all the right reasons. We love our country, and enjoy the camaraderie and the sense of purpose."

Chris is currently the Deputy Executive Director for Corporate and Community Affairs for the largest public transportation provider in the nation, the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a leading partner in the Veterans Advantage Recycle and Reward program. In that capacity, he is responsible for corporate-wide marketing, internal relations, the website, government and community relations, the "Arts for Transit Program" and the "New York Transit Museum." He is Member of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA’s) Board of Directors and served from 1996-1999 as its elected Vice Chair for Government Affairs. In addition, he serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the New York Public Transit Association and Chairman of the Big Apple Greeter tourism organization.

He’s very aware of the impact of the Recycle & Reward Program, and sees it playing a key part in a much bigger picture. "Its not so much me, as it is the MTA is being supportive. As is the state, the governor, the legislature. They are all very supportive of the New York reservist needs and duties. This fits nicely with their support."

Prior to his current position at the MTA, he served as Chief of Staff (1993-96) to two MTA Chairmen and Director of Government and Community Relations (1990-93). Before joining the MTA Captain Boylan spent six years as the Federal Legislative Representative for former New York City Mayor Ed Koch and five years with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget.

In his military career, Captain Boylan is currently the Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve (NR) Navy Information Bureau, New England 101, based in Newport, RI.

He has held numerous assignments in the Naval Reserve public affairs community since receiving his direct Commission in 1981. Those assignments included duty with REDCOM REG Four staff; NR NAVINFO East 102 as Operations Officer and NR Office of Information Detachment 102 as Asst. Training Officer, Asst. Admin Officer, Admin Officer and Operations Officer. Of particular note was a three-year tour as editor of the Navy Reserve Public Affairs community’s nationwide professional journal, the Public Affairs Community Exchange (PACE).

Captain Boylan’s Active Duty Training tours included separate assignments aboard USS Portland, Iowa, Constellation, John F. Kennedy; and with the Navy’s Chief of Information; Commander in Chief Atlantic; Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet; Commander in Chief U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic; Commander, Submarine Group Five; Commander, Fleet Air Forces, Caribbean; Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic, and; the Chief of Naval Operations speechwriting office.

He is also a graduate of Joint Military Operations courses at the Naval War College, Newport, RI, Strategic Military Operations at the National Defense University, Washington, DC, and Public Affairs at the Defense Information School, Ft. Benjamin Harrison,

Captain Boylan also served from 1991-95 as the V.P. for Publicity and Member of the Executive Committee of the Long Island Chapter of the Naval Reserve Association and was a member of the NY region’s Recruiting District Advisory Committee. He is currently a Special Assistant to the Commander of the New York State Naval Militia.

His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards).

Captain Boylan holds a B.A. from Fordham University and an M.P.A. in Public Administration /Legislative Affairs from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Affairs (State University of New York at Albany.)

He lives in the New York metropolitan area with his wife and three children, and thanks them for their extraordinary support, too. "It’s not always easy and sometimes you do one better than the other. There are periods of time when you really have to balance them delicately. The good thing is I have the support of family when I can’t be with them."

Each day when he wakes up, they ask him "Are you MTA or Navy today?"

Somehow, Chris manages to do both.