Craig R. McKinley

[1] Prior to becoming chief, he served as the Director, Air National Guard from May 2006 to November 17, 2008.

[6] McKinley received his commission in 1974 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Southern Methodist University.

McKinley is a command pilot with over 4,000 flight hours, primarily in the T-38 Talon, F-106 Delta Dart, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle.

Additionally, McKinley has been pilot in command in the C-131 Samaritan and C-130 Hercules Operational Support Airlift aircraft.

This article incorporates public domain material from General Craig R. McKinley biography.

McKinley has his new four-star rank put on his uniform by his wife Cheryl and son Patrick during a ceremony at the Pentagon, where he was also sworn in as the 26th chief of the National Guard Bureau on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008.