A native of California, David Craig is a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired commercial airline pilot. In love with aviation since childhood, he kept striving toward the goal of piloting a jet airliner. His unusual route to the command seat of a Boeing airliner is a story of personal growth, challenges, misfortune, and trials.
During his 19-year Air Force career, David served as an aircraft mechanic and later became an inflight refueling operator. He was promoted early twice in his Air Force career and attained the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. David accumulated over 4,000 flight hours as an air refueling operator in KC-135, EC-135, RC-135, and KC-10 airplanes and achieved instructor and flight examiner status. While most of his career was during the Cold War with Strategic Air Command, he participated in the Grenada invasion and was deployed for DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, where he flew combat support sorties.
After the Air Force, David went on to a career as a commercial pilot. He has flown as a flight instructor, corporate pilot, charter pilot, and airline pilot. He holds the FAA Airline Transport License with a Multi-Engine rating, the FAA Flight Instructor certificate as a multi-engine and instrument instructor with Gold Seal designation, as well as the ground instructor and ground instrument instructor certificates. David is licensed to command the Boeing 767 and 757, Beechjet 400A, and Beechcraft 1900. He has been an Instructor and Check Airman for two airlines as well as Training Captain at several different companies, conducting simulator and flight training and evaluations. During his career, David accumulated over 7,500 hours as a pilot.
Leaving the airlines, David was the Chief of Pilot Training for the Boeing Company in Seattle, WA on the new U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker, training the first Air Force pilots to fly the airplane. He then went on to manage a KC-46 training site for FlightSafety International at McConnell AFB, KS until retirement. David continues to stay involved with aviation by working part-time for FlightSafety International Defense, performing simulator certification work.
David is married to the former Carol Ann Cook. They reside in Derby, KS, and between them have three daughters, six grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
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