Steven A. Cray
# Steven A. Cray

Major General Steven A. Cray (born June 15, 1964) was the Adjutant General of Vermont. In this post he served as the senior uniformed officer in the state, and was responsible for the organization, training and equipping of the 4,000 members of the Vermont Army and Air National Guard. As adjutant general, he also served as inspector general, quartermaster general and head of the State Military Department, including the Vermont State Guard and Veterans Affairs.

## Early life

Steven A. Cray was born in Burlington, Vermont, on June 15, 1964. He graduated from the University of Vermont (UVM) in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business.

## Military career

General Cray enlisted in the Vermont Air National Guard while a student at UVM. He received his commission as a second lieutenant after graduating from the Academy of Military Science in 1984.

He became a pilot and attained the rating of command pilot, logging over 2,500 hours of military flying, mostly in the F-16. He is a qualified Joint Task Force Commander and held a variety of command, supervisory and staff positions in the 158th Fighter Wing and Vermont Joint Force Headquarters. Prior to his appointment as adjutant general he served as assistant adjutant general for air.

## Election as adjutant general

In 2012 Michael Dubie left the adjutant general's position to become deputy commander of United States Northern Command. He was succeeded on an interim basis by Thomas E. Drew.

In February, 2013 Cray defeated three other candidates in the Vermont General Assembly election for the position. In Vermont, the adjutant general is elected for a two-year term in secret balloting by a combined meeting of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont State Senate. At the time, elections took place in February of each odd-numbered year.

Cray was promoted to major general and took over from Drew in a ceremony on March 1, 2013, and Drew retired.

## Reelection as adjutant general

On February 19, 2015, the Vermont General Assembly reelected Cray to a two-year term. He was unopposed, and won by unanimous voice vote. In February 2017, Cray was re-elected to another two-year term, again by unanimous voice vote. He did not run for re-election in 2019. Cray was presented with the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal at his March 2019 retirement ceremony. He was succeeded by Brigadier General Gregory C. Knight.

## Civilian career

Before becoming adjutant general, General Cray was employed as a commercial airline pilot with American Airlines, and logged over 10,000 flight hours. He also served as president of the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation and on other civic and charitable boards and commissions.

## Education

* 1989 University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, Burlington, Vermont
* 1997 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
* 2003 Air War College, by correspondence
* 2007 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
* 2007 Dual Status Title 10/32 Joint Task Force Commander's Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
* 2008 Senior Leaders Orientation Course
* 2010 Joint Force Air Component Commander's Course (JFACC), by correspondence
* 2011 Capstone Military Leadership Program
* 2012 Joint Senior Reserve Officer Course (JSROC)
* 2015 Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar
* 2017 Advanced Senior Leader Development Program-Strategic Engagement Seminar (ASLDP-SES)

## Assignments

* January 1985 – February 1986, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
* March 1986 – April 1986, student, AT-38, Fighter Lead-In Training, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
* April 1986 – November 1986, student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
* November 1986 – January 1989, assistant standards and evaluation officer, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
* January 1989 – July 1992, safety officer/flight lead, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
* July 1992 – April 1994, instructor pilot, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
* April 1994 – August 1997, supervisor of flying/flight commander F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
* August 1997 – September 2002, standards and evaluation flight examiner, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
* September 2002 – May 2004, director of operations, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
* May 2004 – May 2006, director of plans and programs, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
* May 2006 – April 2009, chief of staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
* April 2009 – March 2013, assistant adjutant general-air, Vermont National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Air National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
* March 2013 – March 2019, adjutant general, Vermont National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Colchester, Vermont

## Flight information

General Cray holds the rating of Command Pilot. He has flown more than 2,500 hours. The aircraft he has flown include the F-16A/B/C/D, AT-38, T-38, and T-37.

## Awards and decorations

* US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
* Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
* Legion of Merit
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Aerial Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
* Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters and "V" Device
* Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
* Combat Readiness Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
* National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
* Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf cluster
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass and "M" Device
* Air Force Training Ribbon
* Vermont Medal of Merit
* Vermont Commendation Medal
* Vermont Meritorious Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
* Vermont Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
* Vermont Career Service Award
* Vermont Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
* Vermont Duty Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters

## Effective dates of promotions

Promotions :

| Rank | Date |
| - | - |
| Major general | March 1, 2013 |
| Brigadier general | September 27, 2007 |
| Colonel | June 4, 2004 |
| Lieutenant colonel | August 2, 1998 |
| Major | July 9, 1994 |
| Captain | August 1, 1989 |
| First lieutenant | January 10, 1987 |
| Second lieutenant | December 6, 1984 |
