Brigadier
General R. Craig Nafziger is the chief of staff, Illinois Air National Guard,
Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Ill. As the chief of staff, he serves as the chief
military advisor to the commander, Illinois Air National Guard and directs
the activities of the senior staff members in the State Headquarters in the
areas of Joint Operations, Plans & Programs, State Surgeon, Support, Command
Control Communications and Computers (C4), and Public Affairs. He also serves
as chief of staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Illinois, as well as on the IPP
steering committee.
General Nafziger was a distinguished graduate and top honor graduate of his OTS class in January 1973. He is a command pilot with more than 3400 hours in fighter aircraft. He has served in many capacities in the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard, including commander of the 183d Fighter Wing. He recently served as chief of staff, director of operations Headquarters Illinois Air National Guard and guided the commander, staff, and all units on operational readiness and flight safety issues in times of increased missions including broad participation in the Air Expeditionary Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Partnership for Peace.
1969 Bachelor of science degree in business administration, Illinois
State University, Normal
1977 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1978 Master of science degree in human development management, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tenn.
1984 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1995 Air War College, by correspondence
2004 Force Management for Senior Leaders, Fort Belvoir, Va.
1. January 1973 - April 1974, student, undergraduate pilot training,
82nd Student Squadron, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. April 1974 - January 1975, student, fighter training, F-4, 35th Tactical
Fighter Wing, George Air Force Base, Calif.
3. January 1975 - January 1976, aircraft commander, F-4D, 78th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, Royal Air Force Base Woodbridge, UK
4. January 1976 - January 1977, forward air controller, 78th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, Royal Air Force Base Woodbridge, UK
5. January 1977 - October 1977, instructor pilot, flight examiner, 81st Tactical
Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Base Bentwaters, UK
6. October 1977 - December 1978, training flight commander, 78th Tactical
Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Base Woodbridge, UK
7. December 1978 - April 1979, instructor pilot, flight examiner, F-4D, 91st
Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Base Bentwaters, UK.
8. April 1979 - December 1983, instructor pilot, flight examiner, F-4D, 170th
Tactical Fighter Squadron, Capital Airport, Springfield, Ill.
9. December 1983 - July 1984, assistant chief standardization evaluation,
183rd Tactical Fighter Group, Capital Airport, Springfield, Ill.
10. July 1984 - October 1984, safety officer, F-4C, 131st Tactical Fighter
Wing, Capital Airport, Bridgeton, MO.
11. October 1984 - April 1985, chief of safety, 131st Tactical Fighter Wing,
Bridgeton, Mo.
12 April 1985 - October 1985, instructor pilot, flight examiner, F-4E, 131st
Tactical Fighter Wing, Bridgeton, Mo.
13. October 1985 - October 1991, instructor pilot, flight examiner, 110th
Tactical Fighter Squadron, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Mo.
14. October 1991 - October 1992, chief of safety, F-16A, 182nd Fighter Group,
Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
15. October 1992 - October 1993, commander, 182nd Operations Support Squadron,
Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
16. October 1993 - July 1994, commander, 182nd Operations Support Flight,
Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
17. July 1994 - July 1996, vice commander, F-16C, 183rd Fighter Group, Capital
Airport, Springfield, Ill.
18. July 1996 - October 1998, commander, 183rd Fighter Wing, Capital Airport,
Springfield, Ill.
19. October 1998 - February 2001, director of operations, Headquarters Illinois
Air National Guard, Springfield, Ill.
20. February 2001 - present, chief of staff, Headquarters Illinois Air
National Guard, Springfield, Ill.
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400 military
Aircraft flown: F-4, F-16
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon - Long Tour
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Illinois Long and Honorable Service Medal
Illinois Attendance Ribbon
Missouri Long and Honorable Service Medal
Captain and Instructor Pilot, American Airlines
Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School
Top Honor Graduate, Officer Training School
Dean's List - Illinois State University
Illinois State Scholarship Award
American Legion Service Award
Lions Club Sportsmanship Award
Air Force Association
National Guard Association of Illinois
National Guard Association of the United States
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Friends of the Shrine of St. Joseph
Parents Coordinating Counsel, Academy of the Sacred Heart
Second Lieutenant Jan 17, 1973
First Lieutenant Jan 17, 1975
Captain Jan 17, 1977 (Active Duty)
Captain Apr 28, 1979 (Air Force Reserve)
Major Apr 24, 1984
Lieutenant Colonel Oct 01, 1992
Colonel Dec 02, 1995
Brigadier General Feb 01, 2001
(Current as of December 2005)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.