Chris Valle was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1962. After completing a year at the Northwestern Preparatory School in Mound, Minnesota, he entered the U.S. Air Force Academy in June 1981, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on May 29, 1985. Lt Valle next completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, in June 1986, followed by service as a C-141 Starlifter pilot with the 41st Military Airlift Squadron at Charleston AFB, South Carolina, from October 1986 to March 1990. His next assignment was as a C-20 Gulfstream pilot with the 58th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, from April 1990 to April 1993. During this time, Capt Valle flew missions in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as a C-20 pilot for General Norman Schwarzkopf and his staff. He served with the 305th Operations Group as Chief of the C-141 Group Stan/Eval at McGuire AFB, New Jersey, from May 1993 to February 1995, and then studied at the Air Mobility Warfare Center at Fort Dix, New Jersey, from March 1995 to April 1996. His next assignment was at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon, where he served as Chief of the Air Expeditionary Force Implementation Branch in the War and Mobilizations Division from May 1996 to July 1999. Maj Valle next attended Air Command & Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1999 to August 2000, followed by service as Operations Officer for the 4th Airlift Squadron at McChord AFB, Washington, from September 2000 to February 2002. Col Valle was Commander of the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan, from April 2002 to May 2004, and then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB from June 2004 to May 2005. He then served on the staff of U.S. Transportation Command at Scott AFB, Illinois, from June 2005 to March 2007, followed by service as Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander of U.S. Transportation Command from April 2007 to May 2008. Col Valle's final assignment was as Vice Commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, from May 2008 until his retirement from the Air Force on September 1, 2010. During this time, he helped host the 5th Counseil Du International Sports Militaire World Military Women's Soccer Championship at Keesler AFB in June 2009, and the 6th Championship in Cherbourg, France, in June 2010. Col Valle is a Command Pilot and Parachutist, and has accumulated over 4,200 flying hours during his Air Force career.

His Air Medal Citation reads:

Captain Christopher R. Valle distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in sustained aerial flight as C-20A Pilot, 58th Military Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from 27 January to 8 April 1991. During this period, the airmanship and courage exhibited by Captain Valle in the successful accomplishment of these important missions transporting General Schwarzkopf and his staff throughout the Southwest Asia theater of operations, under hazardous conditions, demonstrated his outstanding proficiency and steadfast devotion to duty. The professional ability and outstanding aerial accomplishments of Captain Valle reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.