RICHMOND, Va. — Newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Craig C. Crenshaw will headline the Virginia National Guard’s 2022 Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 at the Library of Virginia beginning at 5:15 p.m.
Crenshaw began is military career with the United States Marine Corps as a Logistics Officer assigned to the Japan-based 3d Force Service Support Group. He was later assigned to the California-based Marine Corps Recruit Depot where he served as a Series Commander and Battalion Operations Officer. In Sept. 1989, Crenshaw was assigned to Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. While serving with the 1st Marine Regiment, Crenshaw deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation: Desert Shield and Operation: Desert Storm. Shortly afterwards, Crenshaw supported law enforcement officials by serving with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Los Angeles during the L.A. Riots.
In 1992, Crenshaw was assigned to the Washington, D.C.-based Program Executive Office for Cruise Missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. He also served as the Marine Corps Integrated Logistics Support Manager and Deputy Director, Joint Logistics Program, Joint Logistics Directorate.
Following this assignment, Major General Crenshaw was selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Defense Foreign Liaison Division, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, as an Executive Agent to the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In 2002, Crenshaw was assigned to Camp Lejeune-based 2d Force Service Support Group where he assumed command of Headquarters and Service Battalion and deployed in support of Operation: Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, Crenshaw was selected to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, in Washington, DC. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Logistics Directorate, as the Division Chief, Joint Logistics Operations Center, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.
In 2007, he was assigned to the Department of Installations and Logistics (I&L) as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Deputy Commandant for I&L and Logistics Facilities for Defense Policy Review Initiatives. In 2008, Crenshaw assumed command of Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2d Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). He was subsequently assigned as the Commanding General, 3d Marine Logistics Group, III MEF, Okinawa, Japan in June 2010.
In 2012, Crenshaw returned to the Joint Staff as the Vice Director, J-4, with the follow-on assignment as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics (LP), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, in 2013.
From May 2015 to June 2018, Major General Crenshaw served as the Commanding General of Marine Corps Logistics Command Albany, Georgia, and transitioned in July 2018 as the Director, Manpower Management Division, Department of Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. The position he held until his retirement in 2019.
As a career Marine, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Crenshaw personal awards and decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster in lieu of second award, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster in
lieu of second award, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and numerous unit awards and citations.
Crenshaw commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1984. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a Masters of Arts in Procurement and Acquisitions Management from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri; a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.; and is a graduate of the Senior Acquisition Course and the Program Manager Course from the Defense Acquisition University.
The Virginia National Guard’s 2022 Distinguished Speaker Series event begins at 5:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 at the Library of Virginia. A reception hosted by the Virginia National Guard Association and catered by Mission BBQ immediately follows the series at 6:00 p.m.
Learn more about the 2022 Legislative Reception.
Newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Craig C. Crenshaw will headline the Virginia National Guard’s 2022 Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 at the Library of Virginia beginning at 5:15 p.m.