Chris Gallant

Chris Gallant is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the New York Army National Guard, an air traffic controller, union leader, and volunteer firefighter with a lifelong commitment to serving Suffolk County. Enlisting in the Army at age 17 following the September 11th terror attacks, Chris initially trained as an air traffic controller before achieving his goal of becoming a Black Hawk pilot. His extensive service spans overseas deployments protecting U.S. diplomats, directing emergency operations at New York’s Javits Center during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing specialized air support to the Secret Service during presidential campaigns, and protecting local neighborhoods as a volunteer firefighter with the Copiague Fire Department.

Beyond his military and emergency response record, Chris earned a degree in Aviation Management and managed high-density airspace at JFK Airport, while advocating for safer rest requirements and fair compensation as local union president for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. A born-and-bred Long Islander, Chris lives in Suffolk County with his fiancé, Mike, a fellow Army National Guard member. Bringing a proven track record of crisis-tested leadership—from combat zones to the control tower—Chris is dedicated to working across party lines to fight rising costs, expand housing accessibility, and ensure working families can afford to live and thrive on Long Island.