Army Guard

Army Guard Commander

 

BRIGADIER GENERAL CRAIG E. BENNETT

 

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