Chris D. Crawford
Colonel, U.S. Air Force

Chris D. Crawford received his commission in 1988 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Alabama ROTC program. He has served as a satellite operator at the 50th Space Wing, as a space surveillance crew commander, and as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation at 20th Space Control Squadron in the 21st SW. He served on the Air Force Space Command staff as Chief of Space Control Mission Concepts and on the Headquarters Air Force Staff as Chief of Space Control Plans and Operations, Executive Officer, and Deputy Chief of the Space and Reconnaissance Division. Colonel Crawford also served in the National Reconnaissance Office as Director of Missions and Chief, Operations and Engineering. While deployed he served as Space and Information Operations Officer to the Director of the Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Air Component Coordination Element during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and completed the National Security Fellowship Program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, MA. His previous command experience includes command of the 50th Operational Support Squadron at Schriever AFB, CO, and the 21st Operations Group at Peterson AFB, CO. Prior to taking command of the 21st SW, Colonel Crawford served as Chief, Current Operations Division, Deputy Directorate for Command, Control and Nuclear Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC.

Colonel Chris D. Crawford is currently Commander, 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, CO. As the Air Force's fourth largest wing, it consists of a work force of almost 5,000 officer, enlisted, civilian and contract employees. Spanning the globe, this team provides missile warning and space control for combat forces and the national command authorities of the United States and Canada.

Assignments

1. January 1989 - April 1989, student, Undergraduate Space Training, Lowry AFB, CO
2. May 1989 - August 1989, student 1013th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Colorado Springs, CO
3. September 1989 - November 1992, Orbit Analysis Officer, Senior Orbit Analyst, and Chief Launch Analysis Section, 3rd Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
4. November 1992 - December 1995, Crew Commander and Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 20th Space Surveillance Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL
5. January 1996 - June 1998, Chief, Space Control Mission Concepts, Space Control Mission Team, Plans and Programs Directorate, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO
6. June 1998 - June 2001, Chief, Space Control Plans and Operations, Executive Officer and Deputy Chief of Space and Reconnaissance Requirements Division, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Headquarters United States AF, Washington, DC
7. June 2001 - June 2002, student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
8. June 2002 - April 2004, Director, Operational Plans and Scheduling Division, Director of Missions and Chief of the Operations and Engineering Division, SAF Project Office, Office of the Undersecretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington DC
(February 2003 - April 2003, Space and Information Operations Officer and Combat Assessments Officer to the Director, Air Component Coordination Element, Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Camp Doha Kuwait, Operation Iraqi Freedom)
9. June 2004 - June 2006, Commander, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO
10. July 2006 - May 2007, National Security Fellowship Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
11. June 2007 - June 2009, Commander, 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, CO
12. July 2009 - June 2011, Chief Current Operations Division, Deputy Directorate for Command, Control and Nuclear Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC
13. June 2011 - Present, Commander 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, CO

Education

1988 Bachelor of Science degree in statistical mathematics, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
1989 Undergraduate Space Training, Lowry AFB, CO
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
1995 Master of Business Administration, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL
2000 Air Command and Staff College, non-resident, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2002 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2005 Air War College, non-resident, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 National Security Fellow, (Senior Developmental Education), John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2010 Joint Forces Staff College (Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II), Norfolk, VA
2010 United States Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business, VA
2012 Center for Creative Leadership Enhancement Program, Greensborough, NC

Medals, Awards & Badges

Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
Master Space Professional Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Honors

National Reconnaissance Office Gold Medal Award
National Reconnaissance Office Field Grade Officer of the Year
HQ USAF, Directorate of Requirements, Officer of the Year
HQ AFSPC, Directorate of Plans and Programs, Company Grade Officer of the Year
20th Space Surveillance Squadron, Company Grade Officer of the Year (twice)
Distinguished Graduate, Air Force ROTC, Detachment 10, University of Alabama

Effective Dates of Promotions

Second Lieutenant: 14 May 1988
First Lieutenant: 10 September 1990
Captain: 10 September 1992
Major: 1 January 2000
Lieutenant Colonel: 1 March 2003
Colonel: 1 January 2007

(Information current as of May 2013)