General McKinley named Air National Guard director

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. Jim Greenhill
  • National Guard Bureau
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFPN) --  A lieutenant general with 32 years of service has been named as the 12th director of the Air National Guard.

Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley was confirmed as director by the U.S. Senate effective May 20 and promoted to three-star rank.

“I am thrilled about this opportunity to lead the more than 106,000 members of the Air National Guard during the global war on terrorism,” General McKinley said.

General McKinley succeeds Lt. Gen. Daniel James, who officially retires June 3.

A member of the Florida Air National Guard, General McKinley most recently served as assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and programs at Air Force headquarters. In that position, he managed the $682 billion Air Force Future Years Defense Program and the Air Force Long-Range Plan to support national security objectives and military strategy.

General McKinley graduated from Southern Methodist University, where he was the distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program in 1974. He has master's degrees from Webster College and the National Defense University.

A command pilot, General McKinley has flown more than 4,000 hours in eight aircraft, primarily the T-38 Talon, F-106 Delta Dart, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle. His assignments have included operations and command positions at group, wing, sector and field operating agency levels.

His military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak clusters and the Humanitarian Service Medal.