Chris Frueh, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo with nearly 35 years of experience working with military veterans, servicemembers, and first responders. His work spans clinical practice and research examining trauma, identity disruption, resilience, and the biological, psychological, and social factors that shape long‑term health and well‑being.

He has served as principal investigator on 15 federally funded research grants and co‑investigator on dozens more, and he has authored or co‑authored more than 325 peer‑reviewed scientific publications, including a widely used graduate‑level textbook on psychopathology. Previously, he was a tenured professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina and Baylor College of Medicine, and the founding director of the Trauma and Resilience Center at UT Health Science Center in Houston.

He is the author of Operator Syndrome (2024) and is widely cited in national media and professional circles for his work on trauma, resilience, and the psychological impact of life‑altering transitions. His perspective brings deep clinical rigor to understanding loss, meaning‑making, and adaptation during periods of profound change.