Christopher Coutu (R-CT-2)

Christopher Coutu Congressional Candidate Connecticut District 2

Christopher Coutu Biography from Connecticut House Republicans

Biography of State Representative Chris Coutu

Christopher D. Coutu (born on August 28th, 1976) was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives 47th district in 2008.

As a representative of Connecticut’s 47th district, Coutu serves the City of Norwich and rural Eastern towns of Canterbury, Scotland and Sprague. They are located in New London and Windham Counties. He maintains his residence in Norwich. Coutu is on the Connecticut General Assembly’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. In addition, he is a member of the Judiciary, Veterans and Human Services Committees

Personal Information

Christopher Coutu was born and grew up in Norwich, Connecticut. He graduated from Norwich Tech High School with a certification in Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning in 1994. From 1998 to 2004 Coutu earned multiple degrees and then a Masters in Business Administration from Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford. To fund college tuition he worked at the Mohegan Sun Casino and also as a Social Worker. He is proud to be the first in his family to earn a college degree.

Coutu enlisted in the United States Air Force as an Airman and completed the eight month Avionics Guidance and Control Course at Keesler Air Force Base in 1995. He then served within the 16th Special Operations Wing out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida from 1995 to 1998. After his active duty service, Coutu served in the Air National Guard from 1998 to 2008. During this time he witnessed 9/11 from a deployed location inside Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 2004 he achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant as a Craftsman Education and Training Manager for the 103rd Fighter Wing in East Granby, Connecticut.

In 2009 after serving in an enlisted uniform for 14 years Coutu graduated from Officer Candidate School. Coutu now serves as a Lieutenant in the Army National Guard. Coutu remains active within the veteran community as a member of the Disabled American Veterans, VFW, American Legion, ESGR and the Association of the National Guard. In 2009 Coutu led an effort to reorganize the Norwich Area Veterans Council, which is a coalition of 20 Veteran organizations in the region.

From 2002 to 2004 Coutu worked within his family’s commercial fishing and trucking operation called Fitz-Sea. He experienced commercial fishing 50 miles off shore and transporting freight across America.

In 2004 Coutu transitioned to work as a federal GS employee within the Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Management Services. This position had Chris working side-by-side with union members from 30 regions throughout the United States. He had the unique opportunity to visit and communicate with leadership from hundreds of companies over this two year period.

In 2006 Coutu established AmericanWarrior.us. This patriotic non-profit organization supports Veterans and patriotic operations. This organization is supported by volunteers and sends hundreds of World War II and Korean Veterans to see their Memorials in Washington D.C.  for the first time. Additionally, Coutu formed Operation Freedom Legacy which brings WWII and Korean Veterans to schools and other organizations to promote patriotism, democracy and volunteering. In 2010, AmericanWarrior established a national Vietnam Veteran/POW Homecoming, “The Homecoming They Deserve.”

Coutu earned a seat as an Alderman on the Norwich City Council in 2007. He continues to remain active with multiple community organizations including Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Church, AHEPA, Taftville Volunteer Fire Department, the Bully Busters and Taftville Lions. Coutu’s efforts to make a difference throughout his life have earned him the Outstanding Volunteer and Humanitarian medals from the United States Air Force. He recently received the University of Hartford’s Humanitarian Award, Vietnam Veterans Award and the Connecticut American Legion’s Americanism Award.

Coutu works in the financial industry and is a licensed tax professional. He has instructed courses in the Air Force and as an Adjunct Professor of Finance.

Coutu has been married to his wife for five years.

Do you know where you still on the political spectrum? See “Political Beliefs, Where Are You” to find out where you stand.