Craig R. McKinley
|
General Craig Richard McKinley |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
May 6, 1952 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1974–2012 (38 years) |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held | |
| Awards | See below |
| Other work | Former President, Air Force Association |
Craig Richard McKinley (born May 6, 1952) is a retired USAF General who served as the 26th Chief, National Guard Bureau, serving from 2008 to 2012. He is the first officer from the National Guard to ever achieve the grade of a four-star general. He is currently President of the Air Force Association.
Prior to becoming chief, he served as the Director, Air National Guard from May 2006 to November 17, 2008. He retired after being succeeded by Frank J. Grass on September 7, 2012. At the ceremony where he transferred authority to his successor, McKinley received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal. McKinley's official retirement date was November 1, 2012.
As the Chief, National Guard Bureau, General McKinley was the senior uniformed officer of the National Guard of the United States, and the state National Guard, responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting more than half a million federalized and nonfederalized Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel. Appointed by the President, he served as the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Army, Chief of Staff of the Army, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He also served as the principal National Guard adviser to Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on all National Guard issues. As National Guard Bureau Chief, he served as the Army's and Air Force's official channel of communication with state governors and Adjutants General concerning state National Guards.
...
Wikipedia