Assistant Adjutant General, New Hampshire Army National Guard
Brig. Gen. Craig E. Bennett assumed duties as the Assistant Adjutant General, New Hampshire Army National Guard on 10 February 2010. He serves as the principal assistant to the Adjutant General in all matters pertaining to the Army National Guard with duties as the commander of all troops and units assigned. He is responsible for all training, personnel, and equipment as related to readiness. He is responsible for resource planning, programming, budgeting and execution in support of operational requirements and readiness goals. He serves the Adjutant General as a principal advisor for joint policies, procedures and planning.
Brig. Gen. Bennett received his commission in May 1989 through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program at Bryant University where he was the class Honor Graduate. After receiving his commission he served on active duty for over six years, with assignments with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea and Fort Dix, New Jersey. From 1996 through 1999, he served as an Active Guard Reserve Soldier with the New Jersey Army National Guard as a Legal Advisor to the Adjutant General. Thereafter, he joined the Army Reserves in New York, and served as an International Law Officer with the 353rd Civil Affairs Command in Staten Island, New York. BG Bennett was mobilized for 15 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first five months of his deployment was as Executive Officer and International Law Officer with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade providing support to the 1st Marine Division/4th Battalion in Hillah, Iraq. The last eight months he supported the 82nd Airborne Division in Ramadi, Iraq. Upon his return from mobilization, he was assigned as the Command Judge Advocate to the 353d Civil Affairs Command in State Island, New York. He most recently served as the Staff Judge Advocate of the New Hampshire Army National Guard.
EDUCATION:
1989 Bryant University, BS Degree, Business Management, Smithfield, Rhode Island
1992 Widener University School of Law, JD Degree, Law, Wilmington, Delaware
2009 Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
ASSIGNMENTS:
Jan 1993 - Mar 1993, Student, JAG Officer Basic Course, Charlottesville, New Jersey
Mar 1993 - Jun 1993, Legal Assistance Officer, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, South Korea
Jun 1993 - May 1994, Brigade Trial Counsel, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Howze, South Korea
May 1994 - Feb 1995, Chief, Criminal Law & Special Assistant US Attorney, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Feb 1995 - Feb 1996, Military Magistrate & Chief, Claims Officer, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Feb 1996 - Jun 1999, Legal Advisor to the Adjutant General of New Jersey, Headquarters STARC, New Jersey Army National Guard, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Jun 1999 - Jan 2000, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, HHC 42nd Infantry Division, New Jersey Army National Guard, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Feb 2000 - Apr 2001, Judge Advocate, Detachment 2 HHC 42nd Infantry Division, New Jersey Army National Guard, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Apr 2001 - Jan 2003, International Law Officer, 353rd Civil Affairs Command, Fort Wadsworth, New York
Jan 2003 - Mar 2004, International Law Officer & Battalion (Provisional) Executive Officer, 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, Hillah and Ramadi, Iraq
Mar 2004 - Sep 2005, Command Judge Advocate, 353rd Civil Affairs Command, Fort Wadsworth, New York
Sep 2005 - Feb 2010, Staff Judge Advocate, New Hampshire Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters, New Hampshire Army National Guard, Concord, New Hampshire
Feb 2010 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters, New Hampshire Army National Guard, Concord, New Hampshire
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Action Badge
Parachutist Badge
German Efficiency Badge - Gold
Air Force Achievement Medal
Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with M Device and Bronze Hour Glass)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Citation
Army Meritorious Unit Citation
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Recycled Energy Development, LLC (RED) and one of seven Executive Committee members responsible for managing the strategic direction of the company. RED is an independent power producer that acquires, develops, owns and operates industrial cogeneration & waste heat/gas recovery projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of steam and electricity for host companies.
Brig. Gen. Bennett's in-house corporate practice expertise is with contract law, mergers and acquisitions, energy regulatory law and litigation management.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:
Brig. Gen. Bennett is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois and is a member of the Energy Bar Association. He is also a member of the National Guard Association of the United States, Veterans of Foreign Wars - Post 3873, American Legion - Post 0043 and the Association of the United States Army.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
Brig. Gen. Bennett was selected to participate in the Chicago Council on Global Affairs 2010 Emerging Leader class. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, with the support of the McCormick Foundation, has established an Emerging Leaders Program to identify individuals who will make the decisions that will equip Chicago to compete and thrive in the global era. This two-year program requires selectees to examine timely issues such as the global economy, foreign policy, the environment and climate change, energy, and migration. In the second year, the class defines, develops, and produces research on a pressing global challenge that affects Chicago and the Midwest.
Brig. Gen. Bennett was awarded the US Army War College DDE Class of 2009 Commandant's Award for Distinction in Research for his thesis paper titled: "Middle Eastern Energy Security: Synchronizing Domestic and Foreign Policy"
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant USAR 19 May 1989
First Lieutenant USAR 2 July 1991
Captain USAR 1 August 1993
Major ARNG 20 March 1998
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 26 January 2004
Colonel ARNG 26 April 2007
Brigadier General 6 August 2010
General Information: (603) 228-1135
ID Cards - Army:
Concord: (603) 225-1326
Littleton: (603) 715-3452
ID Cards - Air: (603) 430-3514
Public Affairs: (603) 225-1340