Page 57 - The CRAIG family

Mark Raymond – Mark was born October 12, 1954
Mark had two brief marriages - At age 19, Mark married Paula R Arnault on 11/17/1973 and Ellen J Kelley Morrison on 11/28/1981, before finding and marrying his soul mate Lezlee M Markert. They were married June 20, 1986 or 1987 and live in Clarksville, Indiana.
Mark had a distinguished military career and retired from the USAF as a Major General (2 Star). He served for more than 43 years in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard. He retired June 2016. His awards and decorations are too numerous to mention. He rose through the ranks as a 2nd Lieutenant November, 15, 1979; 1st Lieutenant November 15, 1982; Captain March 10, 1985; Major February 10, 1991; Lieutenant Colonel January 7, 1996; Colonel January 28,2003, Brigadier General October 3, 2008 and Major General August 1, 2013.
Mark served as Air National Guard Assistant to the commander, USAF Central Command, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He served as advisor to the Commander, USAF Central Command on Air National Guard program matters and was responsible for assisting in the development of contingency plans and the conduct of air operations in a 20-nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia. He maintained frequent and regular liaison with the Commander, Vice Commander, and staff at Ninth Air Force/USAF Central Command Headquarters, focusing on matters relating to the Air National Guard. Additionally, he was the command lead for engagement with Middle East partner nations on matters pertaining to integrated Air and Missile Defense of the Gulf Region.
Mark served as an RF-4C Weapon Systems Officer and C-130 Navigator and held a variety of leadership positions including command at the squadron, group and wing level. His military career spanned more than 43 years, including six years of enlisted service prior to his commissioning as an officer through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Services in 1979. Mark was mobilized in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. While deployed for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, he served with United States Central Command as Commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, and Deputy Commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group.
At his retirement ceremony June 12, 2016, Mark received an Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. This decoration is awarded to members of the USAF who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility.
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