Steven A. Cray

Steven A. Cray

Major General Steven A. Cray
Born (1964-06-15) 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
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

Assignments

  1. January 1985 - February 1986, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
  2. March 1986 - April 1986, Student, AT-38, Fighter Lead-In Training, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
  3. April 1986 - November 1986, Student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
  4. November 1986 - January 1989, Assistant Standards and Evaluation Officer, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
  5. January 1989 - July 1992, Safety Officer/Flight Lead, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
  6. July 1992 - April 1994, Instructor Pilot, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
  7. April 1994 - August 1997, Supervisor of flying/Flight Commander F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
  8. August 1997 - September 2002, Standards and Evaluation Flight Examiner, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
  9. September 2002 - May 2004, Director of Operations, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
  10. May 2004 - May 2006, Director of Plans and Programs, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
  11. May 2006 - April 2009, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
  12. April 2009 – March 2013, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Vermont National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
  13. 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
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges. Meritorious Service Medal
 Aerial Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters and "V" Device
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 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 silver and bronze oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass and “M” Device
Air Force Training Ribbon
Vermont Medal of Merit
Vermont Commendation Medal
 Vermont Meritorious Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
 Vermont Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Vermont Career Service Award
Vermont Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
Vermont Duty Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters

Effective Dates of Promotions

Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
Major GeneralMarch 1, 2013
Brigadier GeneralSeptember 27, 2007
ColonelJune 4, 2004
Lieutenant ColonelAugust 2, 1998
MajorJuly 9, 1994
CaptainAugust 1, 1989
First LieutenantJanuary 10, 1987
Second LieutenantDecember 6, 1984[13]

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1, entry for Steven A. Cray, accessed March 2, 2013
  2. ↑ National Defense University, Biography, Steven A. Cray, CAPSTONE Course Student Directory, 2011, page 18
  3. ↑ Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Biography, Steven A. Cray, accessed March 2, 2013
  4. ↑ Wilson Ring, Associated Press, Vt. Legislature Poised to Elect New Guard Chief, Boston Globe, February 19, 2013
  5. ↑ Peter Hirschfeld, Vermont Press Bureau, Steven Cray to Serve as Next Adjutant General of Vermont National Guard, February 21, 2013
  6. ↑ Wilson Ring, Associated Press, Challenges Await Incoming Vt. Guard Chief, February 21, 2013
  7. ↑ Vermont Emergency Management Agency, Annex O, Vermont Emergency Management Plan, 2011, page 1
  8. ↑ Sam Hemingway, Burlington Free Press, Cray Takes Helm of Vermont Guard in Ceremony at Camp Johnson, March 1, 2013
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Nancy Remsen, Burlington Free Press, 'Strategic thinker' Cray to Lead Guard, February 21, 2013
  11. ↑ Bizpedia, Profile, Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation, April 14, 2012
  12. ↑ Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation, Board of Directors Biography, Steven A. Cray, accessed March 2, 2013
  13. ↑ National Guard Bureau, Biographical sketch, Steven A. Cray
Military offices
Preceded by
Thomas E. Drew		 Vermont Adjutant General
2013–Present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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