About Our Director
Christopher G. Gomes was born on July 11, 1985 in the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He attended Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School and took Carpentry as his technical skill shop. He graduated in June 2003.
Mr. Gomes enlisted in the United States Army – Active Duty in March of 2003 where he trained at the local recruiting station in Dartmouth, Massachusetts until he graduated from high school. He attended basic training and AIT in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from August 2003 until January 2004 where he received his orders for his permanent duty station in Grafenwohr, Germany with the 535th Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion. In January 2005 he deployed with his unit to Mosul, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom until January 2006.
After redeploying back to Germany, he attended multiple schools including Chemical Specialist and Warrior Leadership Course (WLC) or Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC). In October 2007 Mr. Gomes’ unit was called upon again to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, this time to Baghdad, Iraq as part of the “surge”. During this deployment Mr. Gomes’ was a team leader, acted as the squad leader, was in charge of eight soldiers, was one of the chemical sergeants for the company and was in charge of the squad’s security team. In the 13th month of the deployment Mr. Gomes’ armored vehicle was struck by multiple Explosive Formed Projectiles, or EFP’s.
A medevac transported him from the blast site to the Baghdad Combat Support Hospital where doctors had to amputate his right leg and stabilize multiple other injuries. Once he was stable he again was transported from Baghdad, Iraq to Balad, Iraq to Landstuhl, Germany and finally on November 2, 2008 to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
While at Walter Reed Mr. Gomes underwent more than twelve surgeries in less than two months. He also learned how to walk again with the use of a prosthetic leg and hundreds of hours of physical therapy. In June 2009 Mr. Gomes was attached to the CBWTU-MA in Concord, MA where he began his Medical Evaluation Board and transitioning from the Army to civilian life. On July 19, 2010 Mr. Gomes was officially Retired as a Sergeant from the United States Army with six years and eleven months and was given an Honorable Discharge.
Mr. Gomes was retired with:
- Purple Heart
- Three Army Commendation Medals
- Two Army Good Conduct Medals
- Army Achievement Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Army Service Ribbon
- Two Overseas Service Ribbons
- Combat Action Badge
- Iraqi Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Mr. Gomes was hired by the city of New Bedford as a Veterans Agent with the Veterans Services department in August 2010 in order to replace the retiring Director of Veterans Services. In October 2010 Mr. Gomes was appointed by the Mayor and City Council as the Director of Veterans Services for New Bedford.
Since his military service Mr. Gomes has:
- Served as a member of the school advisory board for the Legal and Protective Services shop at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech High School.
- Belongs to the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
- Served on the Board of Directors as well as the post Service Officer for the Freetown VFW Post #6643.
- Named the 2016 Veterans Service Officer of the year by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services.
- Named 2017 Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran of the Year.
Mr. Gomes is married to his wife Samantha and they have 4 children; two boys, Blake and Aydrien as well as two girls Khloie-Mae and Annastasia.
