Craig McKinley — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Retired four-star general in the United States Air Force
Served as the 26th Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2008 to 2012
First officer from the National Guard to achieve the grade of a four-star general
Command pilot with over 4,000 flight hours in various aircraft including the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon
Received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Commissioned in 1974 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Southern Methodist University

Biography

Craig Richard McKinley is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 26th Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2008 to 2012. He holds the distinction of being the first officer from the National Guard to achieve the grade of a four-star general. Prior to his role as chief, he was the Director of the Air National Guard from May 2006 to November 2008.