Christopher Florian Ajinga

Christopher Florian Ajinga, 65, of Merritt, NC, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at CarolinaEast Medical Center.

Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was born in Munich, Germany on 12 September 1960. He enlisted in the Navy in September 1977. While in the Navy, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was assigned as an aviation electronics technician and later attended the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program in 1980. Upon graduation in 1981 he was awarded a NROTC Scholarship to Florida A&M University. Graduating in August 1983 with a BA in Criminal Justice, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Upon completion of The Basic School in 1984, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was assigned to MATSG Pensacola Florida awaiting Flight School.

While awaiting Flight School, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga applied for and was granted a lateral move to the Military Police field. In May 1985, he was assigned to Military Police Company 3rd Marine Division and was reassigned under the Fleet Assistance Program to MCB Camp Butler Okinawa where he served as the Northern District Commander and Officer in Charge of Customs and Training. He returned to the 3rd Marine Division and was assigned as the Division Provost Marshal for Team Spirit 1986 In May of 1986, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was transferred to MCB Camp Pendleton where he served as Platoon Commander and Special Reaction Team Commander until January 1989. After attending the U.S. Army Military Police Officer Advanced from January through June 1989, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was assigned to Marine Ccorps Security Force Company, Naples Italy where he served as Deputy Security Officer, Navy Security Department and Company Executive Officer.

In 1992, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was assigned to Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division where he served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer and deployed to Somalia as the Marine Forces Provost Marshal in support of Operation Restore Hope. Upon returning from Somalia, Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was frocked to Major and assigned as Battalion Executive Officer and later as Commanding Officer, H&S Company, Headquarters Battalion and Headquarters Commandant for 1st Marine Division from May 1994 through May 1995.

In 1996 Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College and was assigned as the Head, Military Police Unit, Operations Division, Plans, Policies, and Operations Department, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. In June 1998, he was selected for assignment as the Security Officer for Marine Helicopter Squadron One and served in that capacity until July 2000. In July 2000 Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga was assigned as the Marine Corps Air Bases East and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Provost Marshal where he served until his reassignment to MCB Camp Lejeune in Aug 2004.

Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga is survived by his wife, Cheryl Ajinga; and his two sons, Wesley and Jonathon Ajinga.

Lieutenant Colonel Ajinga received the following awards: MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALWITH TWO GOLD STARS, NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH TWO GOLD STARS, NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL WITH GOLD STAR, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, JOINT MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION WITH OAK CLUSTER AND ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL.

A memorial service to honor his life will be held Saturday, February 21st at the Florence-Whortonsville VFD at 1:00 p.m. with military honors by the United States Marine Corps. A visitation will follow immediately after.