Steven A. Cray
| Steven A. Cray | |
|---|---|
|
Major General Steven A. Cray | |
| Born |
June 15, 1964 Burlington, Vermont |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1984 to present |
| Rank |
 Major General |
| Unit | Vermont National Guard |
| Commands held | Vermont National Guard (March, 2013 to present) |
| Awards |
Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal |
| Other work | Commercial Airline Pilot, American Airlines |
| Website | http://www.vtguard.com |
Major General Steven A. Cray (born June 15, 1964) is the Adjutant General of Vermont. In this post he serves as the senior uniformed officer in the state, and is responsible for the organization, training and equipping of the 4,000 members of the Vermont Army and Air National Guard. As Adjutant General, he also serves as inspector general, quartermaster general and head of the State Military Department, including Veterans Affairs.
Early life
Steven A. Cray was born in Burlington, Vermont on June 15, 1964.[1] He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.[2]
Military career
General Cray enlisted in the Vermont Air National Guard while a student at UVM. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant after graduating from the Academy of Military Science in 1984.[3]
He became a pilot and attained the rating of command pilot, logging over 2,500 hours of military flying, mostly in the F-16.[4] He is a qualified Joint Task Force Commander. General Cray held a variety of command, supervisory and staff positions in the 158th Fighter Wing and Vermont Joint Force Headquarters. Prior to his appointment as Adjutant General he served as Assistant Adjutant General for Air.[5]
Election as Adjutant General
In 2012 Michael Dubie left the Adjutant General's position to become Deputy Commander of United States Northern Command. He was succeeded on an interim basis by Thomas E. Drew.
In February, 2013 Cray defeated three other candidates in the Vermont General Assembly election for the position.[6] (In Vermont, the Adjutant General is elected for a two-year term in secret balloting by a combined meeting of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont State Senate in February of each odd-numbered year.)[7]
Cray was promoted to Major General and took over from Drew in a ceremony on March 1, 2013, and Drew retired.[8]
Reelection as Adjutant General
On February 19, 2015 the Vermont General Assembly reelected Cray to a two-year term. He was unopposed, and won by unanimous voice vote.[9]
Civilian career
Before becoming Adjutant General, General Cray was employed as a commercial airline pilot with American Airlines, and logged over 10,000 flight hours.[10] He also served as President of the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation and on other civic and charitable boards and commissions.[11][12]
Education
- 1989 University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, Burlington, Vermont
- 2003 Air War College, by correspondence
- 2007 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
- 2007 Dual Status Title 10/32 Joint Task Force Commander’s Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- 2011 CAPSTONE, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
Assignments
- January 1985 - February 1986, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
- March 1986 - April 1986, Student, AT-38, Fighter Lead-In Training, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
- April 1986 - November 1986, Student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
- November 1986 - January 1989, Assistant Standards and Evaluation Officer, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
- January 1989 - July 1992, Safety Officer/Flight Lead, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
- July 1992 - April 1994, Instructor Pilot, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
- April 1994 - August 1997, Supervisor of flying/Flight Commander F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
- August 1997 - September 2002, Standards and Evaluation Flight Examiner, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
- September 2002 - May 2004, Director of Operations, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
- May 2004 - May 2006, Director of Plans and Programs, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
- May 2006 - April 2009, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
- April 2009 – March 2013, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Vermont National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
- March 2013 – Present, The Adjutant General, Vermont National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Colchester, Vermont
Flight Information
General Cray holds the rating of Command Pilot. He has flown more than 2,500 hours. The aircraft he has flown include the F-16A/B/C/D, AT-38, T-38, and T-37.
Awards and decorations
 |
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
 |
Legion of Merit |
|
Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |
|
Aerial Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |
|
Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
 |
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 2 bronze oak leaf cluster and "V" for Valor |
 |
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |
|
Combat Readiness Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters |
|
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star |
|
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
 |
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
 |
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal |
|
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters |
 |
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass, “M” Device, and numeral 2 |
 |
Air Force Training Ribbon |
Effective Dates of Promotions
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Major General | March 1, 2013 |
 | Brigadier General | September 27, 2007 |
 | Colonel | June 4, 2004 |
 | Lieutenant Colonel | August 2, 1998 |
 | Major | July 9, 1994 |
 | Captain | August 1, 1989 |
 | First Lieutenant | January 10, 1987 |
 | Second Lieutenant | December 6, 1984[13] |
References
- ↑ U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1, entry for Steven A. Cray, accessed March 2, 2013
- ↑ National Defense University, Biography, Steven A. Cray, CAPSTONE Course Student Directory, 2011, page 18
- ↑ Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Biography, Steven A. Cray, accessed March 2, 2013
- ↑ Wilson Ring, Associated Press, Vt. Legislature Poised to Elect New Guard Chief, Boston Globe, February 19, 2013
- ↑ Peter Hirschfeld, Vermont Press Bureau, Steven Cray to Serve as Next Adjutant General of Vermont National Guard, February 21, 2013
- ↑ Wilson Ring, Associated Press, Challenges Await Incoming Vt. Guard Chief, February 21, 2013
- ↑ Vermont Emergency Management Agency, Annex O, Vermont Emergency Management Plan, 2011, page 1
- ↑ Sam Hemingway, Burlington Free Press, Cray Takes Helm of Vermont Guard in Ceremony at Camp Johnson, March 1, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press (February 19, 2015). "Vermont Lawmakers Oust Incumbent Sergeant-at-Arms, Re-elect Guard Chief, Elect 3 to UVM Board". Johnson County Daily Journal (Franklin, IN).
- ↑ Nancy Remsen, Burlington Free Press, 'Strategic thinker' Cray to Lead Guard, February 21, 2013
- ↑ Bizpedia, Profile, Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation, April 14, 2012
- ↑ Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation, Board of Directors Biography, Steven A. Cray, accessed March 2, 2013
- ↑ National Guard Bureau, Biographical sketch, Steven A. Cray
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas E. Drew |
Vermont Adjutant General 2013–Present |
Succeeded by incumbent |