Command Group

Prior to coming to the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Col. Christy L. Whitfield served as the J2X Division Chief in the Intelligence Directorate at the United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Whitfield graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Louisiana State University in December 2002 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from LSU, a Master of Military Arts and Science in Conflict, Security, and Development and a Master of Strategic Studies. Her military education includes the Military Intelligence Officer Basic and Captains’ Career Courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Colonel Mark S. Jones currently serves as the Assistant Commandant, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and the Commander, 517th Training Group, Presidio of Monterey, California. In this capacity, Colonel Jones directs language training for 34,000 Department of Defense personnel annually in 89 languages at 29 sites worldwide.

Command Sergeant Major Theo DeHoyos is a native of Dallas, Texas. He graduated from the Korean Basic Course at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas in 2002, as a 35P.

Steven Collins is the Chief of Staff of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and the Presidio of Monterey. He is responsible for coordinating and providing full spectrum staff support for over 15,000 military language students and 2,000 staff and faculty posted at the Presidio of Monterey and at 31 locations around the world.