Chris Fleming is a physicist, mathematician, and statistician by training, and currently a fellow at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's (SCBI) Conservation Ecology Center. Fleming focuses on developing complementary mathematical models, statistical analyses, and software packages for difficult to work with ecological data. Currently, his specific focus is addressing conservation related questions with animal tracking data, such as estimating how much space animals need.

Fleming developed the first statistically rigorous home-range estimator specifically designed to be appropriate for animal tracking data, whereas conventional methods grossly underestimate animals' home-range areas. He is an expert on animal-tracking data analysis and movement ecology. His work at SCBI develops best practices for using movement data to inform management and conservation efforts.

Fleming earned a Bachelor of Science in physics, mathematics and statistics from the University of South Alabama in 2002. He obtained his doctorate in physics from the University of Maryland College Park (UMCDP) in 2011. He has since held post-doctoral positions at UMDCP and SCBI, working on animal movement with Justin M. Calabrese, Bill F. Fagan, and Peter Leimbgruber.