Terry Kraft
Retired United States admiral
title: "Terry Kraft" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["united-states-navy-admirals", "living-people", "united-states-naval-academy-alumni", "auburn-university-alumni", "recipients-of-the-distinguished-flying-cross-(united-states)", "recipients-of-the-legion-of-merit", "1961-births"] description: "Retired United States admiral" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Kraft" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Retired United States admiral ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox military person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Terry B. Kraft |
| image | Terry B. Kraft (2).jpg |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | San Diego, California, United States of America |
| allegiance | |
| branch | |
| rank | Captain |
| servicenumber | |
| commands | {{plainlist |
| awards | |
| spouse | |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Terry B. Kraft | image = Terry B. Kraft (2).jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = San Diego, California, United States of America | allegiance = | branch = | serviceyears = | rank = Captain | servicenumber =
| unit = | commands = {{plainlist |
- U.S. Naval Forces Japan
- Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131)
| battles = | battles_label = | awards =
| memorials = | spouse = | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | website = | module = Terry B. Kraft is a retired Captain of the United States Navy, formerly commanding the U.S. Naval Forces Japan. He is a Naval Flight Officer whose previous commands include Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131), , and . He was one of several senior officers implicated in the Fat Leonard scandal.
Education
Kraft is a 1981 graduate of the United States Naval Academy; he earned a master's degree in political science from Auburn University and is a graduate of the Navy Nuclear Power School. He was a federal executive fellow at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1999–2000).
Career
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/US_Navy_070127-N-0555B-146_Local_San_Diego_news_media_interview_the_Commanding_Officer_of_USS_Ronald_Reagan_(CVN_76),_Capt._Terry_B._Kraft.jpg" caption="Kraft, commanding officer of USS ''Ronald Reagan'', interviewed in January 2007"] ::
Kraft's sea duty tours include the following:
- Attack Squadron (VA) 55 embarked in ,
- VA-115 embarked in , and
- VA-95 embarked in . He also served as executive officer on . During those tours, he participated in Operations El Dorado Canyon, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF).
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/US_Navy_070501-N-3659B-368_USS_Ronald_Reagan_(CVN_76)_Commanding_Officer,_Capt._Terry_B._Kraft,_throws_out_the_ceremonial_first_pitch_prior_to_a_San_Diego_Padres_baseball_game_honoring_the_ship.jpg" caption="May 2007 San Diego Padres]] baseball game honoring the ship."] ::
Kraft commanded Electronic Attack Squadron 131, Amphibious Transport Dock , the aircraft carrier , and the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG-12). He participated in both OIF and OEF during all four tours. He assumed command of Navy Warfare Development Command in October 2011.
Shore tours for Kraft have included duty in VA-128, Air Command and Staff College, Current Operations Directorate (J31), U.S. Pacific Command, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Massachusetts. After flag selection, he reported to the Pentagon, Chief of Naval Operations staff, first in N88 as head of Maritime Aviation, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Aviation Training Plans and Programs, then in N2/N6 as director, ISR Capabilities.
Kraft had over 3700 hours and 1000 carrier arrested landings in the A-6E, EA-6B and F/A-18F aircraft.
Corruption scandal
Main article: Fat Leonard scandal
Kraft was implicated in a wide-ranging corruption scandal known as the "Fat Leonard scandal." Kraft and other high-ranking officials were censured for their conduct during the 2006 deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan. The Navy said the officers showed "very poor judgement and leadership regarding [their] relationship with Mr. Leonard Francis, the president of Glenn Defense Marine Asia." Further statements from the Navy stated that Kraft merely underpaid after attending dinner parties. Although the Navy eventually referred the cases to the Justice Department, legal action was not pursued due to the statute of limitations.
Retirement
In July 2015, he was forced to retire after 34 years of service.
After retiring from the Navy, Kraft worked at General Atomics from 2015 to 2023 in senior leadership and management positions. As of 2023, he is the CEO of the USS Midway Museum.
Awards and decorations
As of 2015, Kraft is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit with four gold stars, Distinguished Flying Cross (with combat V), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars and multiple individual and strike-flight Air Medals.
References
References
- "Rear Admiral Terry B. Kraft". the United States Navy.
- (11 February 2015). "3 Admirals Censured in 'Fat Leonard' Scandal".
- (18 July 2015). "Navy rebukes 3 admirals for accepting dinners, gifts". Navy Times.
- (April 6, 2023). "Meet the USS Midway Museum's New CEO, Rear Admiral Terry Kraft".
- (13 October 2011). "Rear Admiral Terry B. Kraft, Commander, Navy Warfare Development Command, Norfolk". [[United States Navy]].
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