Ms. Carolyn Crary, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Principal Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She is responsible for organizing, coordinating and resourcing the Legislative Liaison Directorate; developing and executing the Department of the Air Force legislative program, and ensuring the Department providing a consistent and cohesive message through congressional engagements, inquiries and correspondence.
Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Crary served as Director of the Legislative Liaison Division at the National Air and Space Administration. In that role she was responsible for leading interactions with NASA’s Congressional Authorization Committees of jurisdiction. Prior to NASA, Ms. Crary served as Senior Intelligence Officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Legislative Affairs Office.
Ms. Crary served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years as a Naval Flight Officer, accruing over 2000 flight hours in Carrier based Tactical Aircraft.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Oceanography, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis Md.
2009 Master of Arts, Adult and Continuing Education, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., via correspondence
2009 U.S. Army Command and Staff College, Leavenworth Kan., in residence
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1999–2000, Student, Navy Flight School, Pensacola, Fla.
2. 2000–2001, Student, Sea Control Squadron 41, San Diego, Calif.
3. 2001–2004, Co-pilot/Tactical Officer, Mission Commander, Sea Control Squadron 22, Jacksonville, Fla.
4. 2004–2005, Air Wing Training Officer, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Fallon, Nev.
5. 2005–2006, Student, Strike Fighter Squadron 122, Lemoore, Calif.
6. 2006–2009, Weapons System Officer, Mission Commander, Strike Fighter Squadron 22, Lemoore, Calif.
8. 2009 –2010, Student, U.S. Army Command and Staff College, Leavenworth, Kan.
9. 2010–2013 Weapons System Officer, Mission Commander, Maintenance Department Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron 41 Lemoor, Calif.
10. 2013–2014, Cyber, Space and Intelligence Program Analyst. Quadrennial Defense Review Staff
the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. 2014–2016, Legislative Liaison, Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. 2016–2018, Air Operations Office, USS Theodore Rosevelt (CVN-71), San Diego, Calif.
13. 2018– 2020, Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs, United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
14. 2021–2022, Senior Intelligence Officer, Congressional Affairs, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
15. 2022–2024, Legislative Liaison Division Officer, Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, NASA, Washington, D.C.
16. December 2024–present, Principal Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
NASA Exceptional Service Award
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
(Current as of February 2025)