Brig. Gen. Craig D. Prather is Director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements at Air Force Special Operations Command. He is responsible for planning and programming a $4.4 billion annual budget to ensure resourcing for more than 21,175 Air Commandos supporting global U.S. Special Operations Command missions. He is also responsible for functions related to Air Force Special Operations Forces weapons systems acquisition, modernization, sustainment and testing.
Brig. Gen. Prather is a 1999 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy serving a majority of his career in the Special Operations community engaging in operations around the globe. Brig. Gen. Prather has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and is a Joint Qualified Officer serving as the Deputy Commander at Special Operations Command Korea and as the Air Component Commander for Joint Special Operations Command. Prior to assuming his current position, Brig. Gen. Prather served as the Chief of Staff, Air Force Special Operations Command.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science in History, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Master of Arts in Organizational Science, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2007 Air Force Intern Program, Washington, D.C.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 National and International Security Leadership Seminar
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1999–May 2000, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Student Pilot, 41st Flying Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. May 2000–February 2001, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training-Helicopter, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Ala.
3. February 2001–December 2001, MH-53M Mission Pilot Qualification Course, 55181 Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. January 2002–June 2005, MH-53M Instructor Pilot, 21st Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
5. July 2005–July 2007, Air Force Intern, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. July 2007–October 2007, Air Ops Advisor, Headquarters Iraqi Air Force, Coalition, Air Force Transition Team, Iraq
7. October 2007–June 2008, Military Liaison to the Iraqi Minister of Defense, Multinational Security & Transition Command-Iraq
8. July 2008–August 2009, CV-22 Mission Pilot Initial Qualification, 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
9. August 2009–July 2010, Student Flight Commander, CV-22 IP, 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
10. July 2010–July 2011, Chief Standard & Evaluations, CV-22 EP, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
11. July 2011–May 2013, Operations Officer, 33rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
12. May 2013–June 2015, Commander, 33rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
13. July 2016–July 2018, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Command Korea, USAG Yongsan, South Korea
14. July 2018–April 2020, Commander, 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component, Fort Bragg, N.C.
15. April 2020–July 2020, Student Pilot, Pilot Instructor Training T-6A, 12th Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
16.July 2020–July 2022, Commander, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
17. July 2022–July 2023, Director, Air Force General Officer Management, the Pentagon, Alrington, Va.
18. July 2023–July 2024, Chief of Staff, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
19. July 2024–present, Director Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2016–July 2018, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Command Korea, U.S. Special Operations Command, USAG Yongsan, South Korea, as a colonel
2. July 2018–April 2020, Commander, 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,100
Aircraft flown: T-37B, TH-67, UH-1H, TH-53A, MH-53J/M, MV-22A, CV-22B, MQ-9B and T-6A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Bronze Star with One Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal and Two Oak Leaf Clusters Air Medal with Valor and Six Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Action Medal
United States Air Force Cheney Award (2003)
United States Air Force Daedalian Exceptional Pilot Award (2004)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training-Helicopter
2001 Distinguished Graduate, MH-53M Mission Pilot Qualification Course
2016 Distinguished Graduate, National War College
(Current as of October 2024)