Summary: Craig Neri is a distinguished Air Force veteran with over 29 years of dedicated service. His career highlights include serving as the Command Chief for Air Force Space Operations and becoming the first HR Senior Enlisted Leader at Air Force Headquarters. Throughout his tenure, Craig’s passion for serving others fueled his leadership and drive for excellence. He spearheaded numerous groundbreaking initiatives, such as developing a comprehensive talent management plan for the Air Force and establishing policies and guidance essential to creating the United States Space Force.
Craig’s extensive expertise in communications, HR strategy, leadership development, and space and military operations has significantly impacted the organizations he has served. His commitment to mentorship, innovation, and organizational growth remains at the core of his professional endeavors. Craig continues to inspire and lead by example, driven by a belief in the power of hard work, teamwork, and achieving radical accomplishments.
Since retiring from the Air Force, Craig has served as the US Beneficiary Trustee for a non-profit that helps ill, injured, and disabled veterans find a renewed sense of team, identity, and purpose through motorsports. He also was a partner and managing director for a franchise teaching financial market trading and investing strategies. Today, Craig works for Ultra Intelligence and Communications, helping DoD organizations solve complex line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight communications problems.
Question 1) Why would a prospective client want you to be their keynote speaker or to support their speaking event? What are some compelling aspects of your background/career/experience that we should know about?
My goal is always to add value in every relationship, and this standard of success extends to my speaking engagements. With over 29 years of operational and leadership experience in diverse, global military organizations, I’ve crafted comprehensive leadership and talent management plans impacting thousands of personnel. My expertise has led me to testify before Congress on critical personnel issues and collaborate with Fortune 500 companies to develop impactful internship opportunities. Additionally, I’ve hosted both large and intimate leadership summits, showcasing my ability to engage and influence diverse audiences. My extensive experience serves as a catalyst for driving personal and professional excellence.
Question 2) What are your primary topics/areas of expertise? Some examples may include: Conflict resolution, International Relations, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Cybersecurity, as well as specific countries or geographical regions.
- Growth:
- Leadership Development
- Operational Effectiveness
- Innovation
- Culture Design, Mindset, Emotional Mastery, Connection Building
- Military Transition
Question 3) What are the 2 – 4 positions you have held in your career that you would like prospective clients to know about? Please provide a brief description of each.
- Chief, Headquarters United States Air Force, Manpower, Personnel and Services Directorate, Pentagon, Washington D.C.: Provided experienced guidance and advice to the Chief Human Resource Officer on 2,000 programs and policies regarding personnel management such as compensation, resource allocation, education and training, employee relations, and development. Closely collaborated with executive leaders to plan and implement the HR and strategic growth objectives for over 685,000 members, with an annual budget of $47 billion.
- Command Chief, 14th Air Force, Lompoc, CA: Senior executive leader responsible for the execution of Air Force global space operations. Oversaw 19,000 multi-service professionals from 58 Department of Defense units across the globe. Keenly assessed the mission’s effectiveness, operational readiness and employee training and development plans to facilitate strategic decision-making in the space domain. Responsible for overseeing all aspects of the talent management plan to include the health, morale, welfare and effective utilization of personnel.
- U.S. Beneficiary Trustee, Operation Motorsport (non-profit): Advocated for and helped ill, injured, and disabled veterans find a renewed sense of team, identity and purpose through motorsports. Managed the beneficiary experience for more than 40 veterans, ensuring individual and organizational growth strategies were set and achieved.
- Partner & Managing Director, Online Trading Academy: Managed the day-to-day operations for two geographically dispersed campuses. Executed the organization’s $1M annual budget and ensured all financial obligations were implemented according to the operations plan. Oversaw all the company’s people processes to include hiring, on-boarding, training, and pay and benefits. Created and oversaw the culture success roadmap for the organizations 2000+ students.
Question 4) Have you supported any speaking events recently? If so, what were the events and who were the clients?
- AF Transition Assistance Program (Financial Growth) – Patrick Space Force Base
- Joint Communications Support Element (VA Benefits Overview) – MacDill AFB
- First Sergeant Offsite (Staying Grounded) – MacDill AFB
- JC Herrera, CrowdStrike, Craig Neri & Diezel Lodder, Operation Motorsport | CrowdStrike Fal.Con 2022 (youtube.com)
- Conversation with CMSSF #2, CMSgt John Bentivegna (youtube.com)
Question 5) Do you have any articles or publications? Have you been featured in any? If so, what were they?