Thomas G. Craft, SC, USN (Retired)
Enlisted in the naval Reserve in October 11948, and transferred to the regular Navy in June 1949. Enlisted assignments: NRTC and SSC San Diego: Naval Station Sangley Point, Washington. Graduated from the University of South Carolina, School of Business Administration, with a Bachelor of Science degree, “cum laude”, in 1957. Commissioned as an Ensign, Supply Corps, U.S. Navy at OCS Newport, Rhode Island in January 1958.
Captain Craft’s Commissioned officer assignments included: USS O’BRIEN (DD725); Naval Supply Depot Seattle; HMC Dockyard and Naval Supply Depot Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Washington; Aide and Special Assistant to the Director, Defense Supply Agency; USS CHICAGO (CG11); Comptroller, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington; USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS4): Executive Officer, Naval Supply Staff: Executive Officer and , subsequently, Commanding Officer, Naval Supply Center Oakland, California; Inspector General, Naval Supply Systems Command, Washington, D.C.; and Officer in Charge, U.S. Naval Joint Services Activity, the New Sanno, U.S. Armed Forces Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Postgraduate education included an MBA degree in Financial Management from George Washington University (1970) and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island (1974) as a “With Distinction” graduate. In the fall of 1982, Captain Craft attended the 89th Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business in Boston, Massachusetts.
Married to the former Caroline Johanna Tensfeld of Lancaster, California. The Craft’s have five children: Commander Michael J. Craft, SC, USN, currently serving at the Fleet Industrial Supply Center, Hawaii; Rebecca L. (Craft) Attwood of Quartz Hill, California; Lieutenant Commander Cheryl A. (Craft) Matheson, USNR of Manchester, England; Martin F. Craft of Hoboken, New Jersey; and Kiley S. Craft of Lancaster, California.
Awards, medals and ribbons include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation with Bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, Sea Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Captain Craft retired on 1 September 1987 after more than thirty-five years of active Naval service. On 10 November 1987, he was selected for the President and Chief Executive Officer, Edwards Federal Credit Union at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Mr. Craft resigned and re-retired in April 1999 after over 11 years as President/CEO. The Crafts reside at 4822 West Avenue M-12, Quartz Hill, CA. 93536-2428
In addition to his position with Edwards Federal Credit Union, Mr. Craft has served on the Military Affairs Committee of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. He is currently a member of the board of Directors of the AV Chapter of the American Red Cross, and has been an active volunteer with the Antelope Valley Division of the March of Dimes. He is a life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #3000; President of the Greater Antelope Valley Chapter of the Military Officers of American Association (Formerly TROA); a Member At Large of the Fleet Reserve Association; a Member of American Legion Post #771. Since 1994, Mr. Craft has served as Chairman of the Citizens Committee, Southern California Veterans Home Foundation, created for the specific purpose of raising funds to procure amenities, entertainment, hobby supplies and equipment in order to enhance the morale and quality of life for the Veterans Home residents.
