During the Spanish–American War he served on the collier USS Scindia which delivered coal to recently captured Guantanamo Bay in Cuba in June 1898.

In 1908, Craven was stationed aboard the battleship USS South Carolina (BB-26) assigned duties as the ship's gunnery officer.

In the aftermath of the Honda Point Disaster in September 1923, Admiral Tingey defended Captain Edward H. Watson, Commanding Officer of Destroyer Squadron 11, during the courts martial proceedings.

[3] Following the United States' entrance into World War II, Craven was recalled to active duty and promoted to vice admiral on 16 June 1942,[4] serving as superintendent of the New York Maritime Academy at Fort Schuyler, NY until 1946, when he was succeeded by Vice Admiral Herbert F. Leary.

He died at the St. Albans Naval Hospital in Queens, New York City and was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.