Major Cris Kimani graduated from Chaminade-Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton, Ohio, in 2008. After graduation, he accepted a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship to attend The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and was subsequently commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. In September 2012, he reported to The Basic School, where he received his primary Military Occupational Specialty as a Low Altitude Air Defense Officer and was assigned to 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (3d LAAD Bn), in Camp Pendleton, CA.
Upon checking into 3d LAAD Bn, 2nd Lieutenant Kimani completed the LAAD Basic Officer's Course. During his time at 3d LAAD Bn, he served as Platoon Commander and Battery Executive Officer. He deployed to support security force missions with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (Forward) in Jordan and was promoted to First Lieutenant. Additionally, he deployed to Bahrain for Operation INHERENT RESOLVE 15.1 from 2014 to 2015, as part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Central Command, Aviation Combat Element, Security Force.
After returning from Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in 2015, 1st Lieutenant Kimani was selected for resident professional military education and attended Expeditionary Warfare School from 2016 to 2017. While a student at EWS, he was selected by Marine Corps Recruiting Command for duties at Recruiting Station Fort Worth, where he served as the RS Executive Officer from 2017 to 2020 and was promoted to Captain.
Captain Kimani returned to 3d LAAD Bn in June 2020, where he served as Alpha Battery Commander. He completed the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in April 2021. In November 2021, he deployed his battery to Okinawa, Japan, in support of Unit Deployment Program 22.1, participating in various ground-based air defense exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility. After returning from Japan in 2022, Captain Kimani was assigned duties as the 3d LAAD Bn Operations Officer from 2022 to 2023. During this period, he was promoted to Major and selected for resident Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia.
Major Kimani completed Command and Staff College in 2024 with a master's degree in military science. Following his time at Command and Staff College, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps Casualty Branch, where he served as the Casualty Section Operations Officer from 2024 to 2025.
In June 2025, he reported to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Air Control Group 18, Marine Air Support Squadron 2, where he currently serves as the Squadron Executive Officer.
His personal awards include the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal.