Brig Gen Craig D. Prather is the Director for Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. He is responsible for USSOCOM programs assessment, strategic acquisition resource oversight and cost analysis, as well as operational test and evaluation.
Brig Gen Prather is a 1999 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy serving a majority of his career in Special Operations. Brig Gen Prather commanded at the Squadron, Group and Wing level and is a Joint Qualified Officer serving as the Deputy Commander at Special Operations Command Korea, the Air Component Commander for Joint Special Operations Command, and the USSOCOM J8 Director. Prior to assuming his current position, Brig Gen Prather served as Director A5/8, Air Force Special Operations Command.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, History, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2004 Sq Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Master of Arts, Organizational Science, The George Washington University, Washington D.C.
2007 Air Force Intern Program, Washington D.C.
2016 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
2017 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Washington D.C.
2025 Combined Joint Force Special Operations Component Commanders Course, MacDill AFB, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1999 – May 2000, Student, SUPT, 41st Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. May 2000 – February 2001, Student, SUPT-Helicopter, 23rd Flying Training Squadron, Ft Rucker, Ala.
3. February 2001 – December 2001, MH-53M Qualification, 551 Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. January 2002 – June 2005, MH-53M Instructor Pilot, 21st Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
5. July 2005 – July 2007, Student, Air Force Intern, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
6. July 2007 – October 2007, Air Ops Advisor, Headquarters Iraqi Air Force, Coalition Air Force Transition Team, Iraq
7. October 2007 – June 2008, LNO to Iraqi Minister of Defense, Multi-National Security Transition Command, Iraq
8.July 2008 – August 2009, CV-22 Mission Pilot Qual, 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
9. August 2009 – July 2010, Flight CC & CV-22 IP, 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
10. July 2010 – July 2011, Chief CV-22 Evaluation Pilot, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
11. July 2011 – May 2013, Operations Officer, 33d Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
12. May 2013 – June 2015, Commander, 33d Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
13. June 2015 – July 2016, Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
14. July 2016 – July 2018, Deputy Cdr, Special Operations Command Korea, USAG Yongsan, Republic of Korea
15. July 2018 – April 2020, Commander, 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
16. April 2020 – July 2020, T-6A Pilot Instructor Training, 12th Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
17. July 2020 – July 2022, Commander, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
18. July 2022 – July 2023, Director, Air Force General Officer Management, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
19. July 2023 – July 2024, Chief of Staff, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Hurlburt Field, Fla.
20. July 2024 – March 2026, Dir Plans, Programs, Requirements, AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
21. March 2026 – Present, Director, Force Structure, Requirements, Resources & Strategic Assessments, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2016 – July 2018, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Command Korea, US Special Operations Command, United States Army Garrison Yongsan, Republic of Korea, as a colonel
2. July 2018 – April 2020, Commander, 1st JSOAC, Joint Special Operations Command, Ft. Bragg, N.C., as a colonel
3. March 2026 – Present, Director, Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,100
Aircraft flown: T-37B, TH-67, UH-1H, TH-53A, MH-53J/M, MV-22A, CV-22B, MQ-9B, and T-6A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Bronze Star with One Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal and Two Oak Leaf Clusters Air Medal with Valor and Six Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Presidential Unit Citation
United States Air Force Cheney Award (2003)
United States Air Force Daedalian Exceptional Pilot Award (2004)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training-Helicopter
2001 Distinguished Graduate, MH-53M Mission Pilot Qualification Course
2011 Distinguished Graduate MQ-9 Transition Training Course
2016 Distinguished Graduate, National War College
2025 Secretariate of the Air Force Small Business Senior Leader of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
Major December 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2012
Colonel May 1, 2017
Brigadier General October 30, 2024
(Current as of April 2026)