Brig. Gen. Craig McPike is the Deputy Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service. The Air Force Recruiting Service comprises 3,700 Total Force Airmen and civilians and approximately 1,275 recruiting offices across the U.S. and abroad. The Recruiting Service is responsible for all enlisted accessions and various officer accession programs, accessing more than 45,000 individuals annually into the Air Force active duty, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Space Force. AFRS also manages all strategic marketing for the U.S. Air Force.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. McPike was the Reserve Director for U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida, where he oversaw joint and combined full-spectrum military operations and supported government efforts to enhance regional security and cooperation in Central and South America and the Caribbean Basin.
Brig. Gen. McPike has held assignments in five different major commands, including unit, group, wing, MAJCOM, and Air Staff levels. His duties have included Programs and Requirements, Operations Group, Vice Wing, Wing and Numbered Air Force Deputy Commander.
Brig. Gen. McPike is a graduate of Texas A&M University and was commissioned through Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1993. He entered active duty in 1994 and graduated from undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, in 1995. Brig. Gen. McPike has flown combat and combat support missions in support of operations Southern Watch, Allied Force, and Freedom’s Sentinel. He is a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in tactical, combat, educational, and test flight operations.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Canadian Forces Joint Command and Staff Distant Learning Program, Toronto, Canada
2014 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Joint Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2016 Advanced Airlift Tactics Center Mobility Commander Tactics Course, St. Joseph Air National Guard Base, Mo.
2018 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hulbert Field, Fla.
2019 NATO Senior Reserve Officer Course, Oberammergau, Germany
2019 Senior Leader Nuclear Management Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2019 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1994–March 1995, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. March 1995–October 1998, KC-135 Pilot, 909th Air Refueling Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
3. October 1998–September 2000, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, 384th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
4. September 2000–March 2001, Flight Commander, 22nd Operations Support Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
5. March 2001–March 2003, Combat Crew Training School Instructor, 54th ARS, Altus AFB, Okla.
6. March 2003–February 2006, Chief, Standards and Evaluations, 313th Fight Test Flight, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
7. February 2006–January 2008, Assistant Operations Officer, 313th FLTF, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
8. January 2008–July 2010, Chief, Standards and Evaluations, 313th FLTF, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
9. July 2010–July 2012, Chief, Group Training, 413th Flight Test Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
10. July 2012–July 2013, Executive to the Director, Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. July 2013–June 2014, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. June 2014–July 2015, Deputy Chief, Programs and Requirements Division, Office of the Air Force Reserve, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2015–January 2016, Deputy Commander, 459th Operations Group, JB Andrews, Md.
14. January 2016–July 2017, Commander, 445th OG, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. July 2017–May 2018, Vice Commander, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
16. May 2018–December 2019, Commander, 916th ARW, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
17. December 2019–October 2021, Commander, 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.
18. October 2021–May 2022, Deputy Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
19. June 2022–June 2024, Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Fla.
20. June 2024-present, Deputy Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service, JB San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,700
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, KC-135D/E/R/T, OC-135B, C-17A, C-5B, C-130H, E-3B, HC-130HN, MC-130E, T-38C, F-15D, F-15E and MH-65
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Longevity Service with silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three ‘M’ devices
(Current as of July 2024)