Colonel Craig H. Neuman is the Deputy Commander of Operations, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. In this role, he is responsible for employing 67 manned and remotely piloted fixed-wing aircraft, including AC-130J, MC-130J, and MQ-9, while also serving as the primary operations advisor to the Wing Commander. The 1 SOW serves seven operational squadrons with over 1,100 Air Commandos from 80 different Air Force Specialty Codes. Col Neuman is responsible for providing world-wide deployable, full-spectrum specialized airpower to combatant commanders executing special operations missions, including direct action, high-value targeting, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, personnel recovery, and psychological operations.
Col Neuman grew up in Youngstown, Ohio and received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2005. He is a graduate of Harvard and Stanford Universities and is a senior pilot with over 2,200 hours in the T-37, T-44, C-130E, AC-130H, AC-130U, and AC-130J. Prior to his current position, Col Neuman was the Division Chief of Space and Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Headquarters U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO
2007 Master of Public Policy, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2012 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2016 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2016 Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science, Stanford University, CA
2024 Master of Strategic Studies with Grand Strategy Concentration, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 2005 – May 2007, Graduate Student, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2. May 2007 – April 2008, Student, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. April 2008 – March 2009, Student, Training Squadron 31, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
4. March 2009 – June 2009, Student, C-130 Qualification, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
5. June 2009 – January 2010, Student, AC-130H Training, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
6. January 2010 – July 2013, AC-130H Pilot and Executive Officer, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
7. August 2013 – July 2016, CSAF Strategic Ph.D. Candidate, Stanford University, California
8. August 2016 – December 2016, Student, AC-130U Training, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
9. December 2016 – February 2018, AC-130U Instructor Pilot and Assistant Operations Officer, 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
10. February 2018 – December 2019, Chief Speechwriter to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force and Chief Speechwriter to the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia
11. December 2019 – June 2020, Student, AC-130J Training, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
12. July 2020 – December 2021, Operations Officer, 73rd Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
13. December 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
14. July 2023 – May 2024, Student, Grand Strategy Seminar, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
15. June 2024 – June 2026, Branch Chief, C2 Systems and Continuity, then Division Chief, Space and Integrated Air and Missile Defense Division, Headquarters U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii
16. June 2026 – Present, Deputy Commander of Operations, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2024 – June 2026, Branch Chief, C2 Systems and Continuity, then Division Chief, Space and Integrated Air and Missile Defense Division, Headquarters U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,200 (including 890 combat hours)
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-44, C-130E, AC-130H, AC-130U, AC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two devices
Air Medal with eight devices
Air Force Commendation Medal with one device
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award with two devices
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award
2012 Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Robert W. Williams Military Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major August 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2019
Colonel March 1, 2025
(Current as of July 2026)