Vice Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division

Capt. Craig “Ditch” Lee was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and educated at Baylor University. He earned his commission through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1991 and his Naval Flight Officer wings at Mather Air Force Base in 1992. He has an executive master of business administration (MBA) from the Naval Postgraduate School and a master’s in philosophy from Baylor University.

He assumed his current position as vice commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), on August 1, 2017. Prior to arriving, he was the deputy lead for the MQ-4 Triton Development Integrated Program Team (IPT) with the Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR) Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program (PMA-262). He was responsible for all aspects of the Integrated Functional Capability 4 (IFC-4) and future capabilities programs, bringing multi-intelligence sensors to MQ-4 Triton.

Previous NAVAIR tours of duty include the assistant deputy program manager for EP-3E Aries II, the class desk for EP-3E and Special Projects Aircraft, the deputy program manager for the airborne multiintelligence and special missions department, and the Increment 3 IPT for P-8A Poseidon in Maritime Surveillance Aircraft for the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program (PMA 290).

He served as executive officer and commanding officer of Special Projects Patrol Squadron One in Brunswick, Maine and Jacksonville, Florida from 2008 to 2010. His earlier squadron tours include Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 1 in Agana, Guam and VQ-2 in Rota, Spain, during which he flew the ARIES, ARIES II and SSIP EP-3E configurations. His operational experience includes Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom (CENTCOM and AFRICOM) and Iraqi Freedom, as well as Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations. During his disassociated sea tour he served as the assistant navigator on USS Enterprise (CVN 65), then for a year with Carrier Group 4 as the electronic warfare officer (opposing force).

His personal awards include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5) and the Joint Service Achievement Medal, as well as various unit and sea service awards.