Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Croft is the Deputy Commanding General – Air, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve and Deputy Director, Joint Air Component Coordination Element, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad. As the ranking Air Force member in Iraq, General Croft ensures the integration and synchronization of Combined Forces Air Component assets in support of land component operations. He coordinates directly with Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, and its sub-components, as the Air Component Commander’s representative.

General Croft received his commission through ROTC at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1988. Following pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, he served in six flying assignments in the F-15C and flew in support of operations Southern Watch and Northern Watch. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and served as commander of the 12th Operations Group at Randolph AFB, Texas, and the 49th Wing at Holloman AFB, N.M. 

Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Assessments, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Arts degree in history, University of California, Los Angeles
1994 Masters of Business Administration in aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla. 
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1997 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev. 
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Master's degree in military operational art and science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master's degree in national security strategy, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1989 - May 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. June 1990 - September 1990, Student, Lead-In Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. September 1990 - February 1991, Student, F-15C Replacement Training Unit, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. March 1991 - March 1995, F-15C Instructor Pilot/Mission Commander, Langley AFB, Va.
5. March 1995 - December 1997, F-15C Instructor Pilot/Academic Instructor, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
6. January 1997 - June 1997, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. January 1998 - July 2000, Weapons Officer, Kadena Air Base, Japan
8. July 2000 - July 2001, Advanced Programs Manager, Air Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. July 2001 - July 2003, Instructor and Operations Officer, F-15C Division, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. July 2003 - July 2004, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. August 2004 - June 2005, Chief, Eglin Command Post and F-15C instructor, Eglin AFB, Fla.
12. July 2005 - July 2007, Commander, 433rd Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. July 2007 - June 2008, Student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
14. July 2008 - July 2009, Executive Officer, Allied Air Component Command Headquarters, Izmir, Turkey
15. July 2009 - July 2010, Strategic Planner, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2010 - June 2012, Commander, 12th Operations Group, Randolph AFB, Texas
17. June 2012 - June 2014, Commander, 49th Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
18. June 2014 - June 2015, Vice Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
19. June 2015 – April 2017, Director, Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments, Headquarters Air 
Education and Training Command, JB San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
20. April 2017 - Present, Deputy Commanding General – Air, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve and Deputy Director, Joint Air Component Coordination Element, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2008 - July 2009, Executive Officer, Allied Air Component Command Headquarters, Izmir, Turkey, as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2009 - July 2010, Strategic Planner, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
3. June 2014 - June 2015, Vice Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a colonel
4. April 2017 - Present, Deputy Commanding General – Air, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad, as a brigadier general

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating:  command pilot
Flight hours:  more than 3,100 
Aircraft flown:  MQ-1B, T-6A, F-15C, F-22, T-37B and T-38A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 10, 1989
First Lieutenant Jan. 10, 1991
Captain Jan. 10, 1993
Major June 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2004
Colonel Aug. 1, 2009
Brigadier General June 10, 2015

(Current as of June 2017)