Craig R. McKinley
General Craig R. McKinley
Official portrait, 2008
Birth nameCraig Richard McKinley
Born (1952-05-06) May 6, 1952
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Service
Years of service1974–2012
RankGeneral
UnitNational Guard Bureau
Commands heldChief of the National Guard Bureau
First Air Force
125th Fighter Wing
WarsGlobal War on Terrorism
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Other workPresident of the Air Force Association

Craig Richard McKinley (born May 6, 1952) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 26th Chief of the 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.[1]

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.[2] At the ceremony where he transferred authority to his successor, McKinley received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal.[3][4][5] McKinley's official retirement date was November 1, 2012.[6]

Military career

McKinley received his commission in 1974 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Southern Methodist University. He served in numerous assignments in flying and operations, as well as command positions at group, wing, sector and field operating agency levels. He also served as Commander, First Air Force and Commander, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Southeast Region, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. McKinley is a command pilot with over 4,000 flight hours, primarily in the T-38 Talon, F-106 Delta Dart, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle. Additionally, McKinley has been pilot in command in the C-131 Samaritan and C-130 Hercules Operational Support Airlift aircraft.

As Chief of the National Guard Bureau, 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 non-federalized 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.

Education

Assignments

McKinley has his new four-star rank put on his uniform by his wife Cheryl and son Patrick during a ceremony at the Pentagon, where he was also sworn in as the 26th chief of the National Guard Bureau on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008.
  1. December 1974 – November 1975, student, undergraduate pilot training, Moody AFB, Georgia
  2. November 1975 – March 1977, T-38 instructor pilot, Craig AFB, Alabama
  3. March 1977 – May 1979, equal opportunity and treatment officer, Air Force Military Training Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
  4. May 1979 – November 1980, T-38 instructor pilot, Laughlin AFB, Texas
  5. November 1980 – April 1986, F-106 alert pilot, 125th Fighter Interceptor Group, Jacksonville ANGB, Florida.
  6. April 1986 – June 1987, Chief of Safety, 125th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Jacksonville ANGB, Florida
  7. June 1987 – April 1989, F-16 instructor pilot, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville ANGB, Florida.
  8. April 1989 – May 1990, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville ANGB, Florida
  9. May 1990 – May 1991, Deputy Commander for Operations, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville ANGB, Florida
  10. May 1991 – May 1994, Commander, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville ANGB, Florida
  11. May 1994 – June 1995, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  12. June 1995 – March 1996, Commander, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville ANGB, Florida
  13. March 1996 – July 1996, Air National Guard Vice Commander, Southeast Air Defense Sector, Tyndall AFB, Florida
  14. July 1996 – January 1998, Commander, Southeast Air Defense Sector, Tyndall AFB, Florida
  15. January 1998 – February 2001, Deputy Director, Air National Guard, Arlington, Virginia, and Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews AFB, Maryland
  16. March 2001 – July 2002, Deputy Inspector General of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  17. August 2002 – October 2004, Commander, 1st Air Force (1 AF) of Air Combat Command, and Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Tyndall AFB, Florida.
  18. November 2004 – November 2005, Director, Mobilization and Reserve Affairs Directorate, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany
  19. November 2005 – May 2006, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  20. May 2006 – November 2008, Director, Air National Guard, Arlington, Virginia
  21. November 2008 – September 2012, Chief, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia

Flight information

  • Rating: Command Pilot
  • Flight hours: More than 4,000
  • Aircraft flown: C-130, C-131, F-15, F-16, F-106, T-33, T-37 and T-38
  • Pilot wings from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia

Awards and decorations

US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge
Personal decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
 Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Unit awards
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Service awards
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Combat Readiness Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Campaign and service medals
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver Hourglass device
Air Force Training Ribbon

Other achievements

  • 1974 Distinguished graduate, Air Force ROTC, Southern Methodist University
  • 1993 I.G. Brown Trophy
  • 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award, Southern Methodist University
  • 2004 Combined Forces Commander, Unified Engagement 04, U.S. Joint Forces Command

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
InsigniaRankDate
General (USAF)November 17, 2008
Lieutenant General (USAF) May 20, 2006
Major General (USAF)May 24, 2001
Brigadier General (USAF)January 28, 1998
Colonel (ANG)January 28, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel (ANG)May 16, 1990
Major (ANG)May 16, 1986
Captain (ANG)November 21, 1980
First Lieutenant (USAF)December 8, 1976
Second Lieutenant (USAF)May 18, 1974

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from General Craig R. McKinley biography. United States Air Force.

  1. ↑ Guard's First 4-star General Ready to Take Minutemen Forward
  2. ↑ Army Times, General to Take Top Guard Job, Get 4th Star, September 5, 2012
  3. ↑ U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, Panetta Hosts Chief Change For National Guard Bureau, Department of Defense Photo Essay, September 7, 2012 Archived April 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Karen Parrish, Pentagon Welcomes New Chief of National Guard Bureau, American Forces Press Service, September 7, 2012 Archived April 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Cheryl Pellerin, Napolitano Honors Outgoing National Guard Bureau Chief, American Forces Press Service, September 7, 2012 Archived April 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Jeff Schogol, Retiring McKinley Finishes Term as Guard Chief, Army Times, September 7, 2012
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