Recently retired U.S. Air Force Major General Chris Craige will mentor students and offer career guidance this spring in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.
The newest member of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business faculty brings with him to campus this spring a record of exemplary service in some of the most prominent combat operations of the past quarter century.
Recently retired U.S. Air Force Major General Chris Craige will mentor and guide business students throughout the semester as the school’s newest executive-in-residence.
Craige’s expertise with human resources and developing human capital emerged as chief of staff to a major command in Europe and Africa, leading airpower efforts supporting both continents. He also served at the Pentagon where he oversaw the executive development, talent management and career mapping for all Air Force general officers.
Craige is available to meet on campus with business students most Tuesday mornings or by appointment during the 2023 Spring Semester. To schedule a meeting, email ccraige@elon.edu.
Craige most recently served as commander of the U.S. Air Force’s personnel center where he was responsible for running programs covering the entire life cycle of military and civilian actions with worldwide operations impacting nearly 2 million total force airmen, retirees, and family members.
A distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he flew combat operations as a command pilot in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and his career included command of Incirlik Air Base in Turkey during NATO’s defensive response and posturing for the Syrian civil war.
He also served as the commanding general of an air expeditionary wing in Kabul, Afghanistan, where his team fielded critical capabilities for the Afghan Air Force, all while protecting U.S. and coalition forces.
Craige has worked with multiple services and federal agencies in several joint-service commands. As lead strategist for a combatant command, he focused national security priorities for Europe and Africa, alongside key partners within the U.S. Department of State and USAID teams.
His distinguished career included a station assignment as the U.S. Air Force’s military aide to the vice president of the United States where he coordinated daily between the vice president, his National Security Affairs team, the White House Situation Room, and the president’s Emergency Operations Center.
Craige holds graduate degrees from Embry-Riddle University, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the National Defense University.
Craige is the second executive-in-residence to join the Love School of Business for the 2023 Spring Semester and brings the total number of executives on the faculty to four alongside David Goslin, Mike DeStefano, and Kevin Trapani.