Craig S. Faller

Craig Stephen Faller (born 1961) is a retired United States Navy admiral. A 1983 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a native of Fryburg, Pennsylvania, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. He earned his master's in national security affairs (strategic planning) from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1990.

Faller assumed duty as senior military assistant to the secretary of defense in January 2017. In that position, he served as the principal military advisor and assistant to the secretary of defense. On November 26, 2018, he succeeded Admiral Kurt W. Tidd as commander of United States Southern Command.

Naval career At sea, Faller served as reactor electrical division officer, electrical officer, and reactor training assistant aboard ; operations officer aboard ; station officer aboard , and executive officer of . As commanding officer of , he deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated in maritime interception operations in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. During his tour as commanding officer of , he assisted victims of the devastating tsunami off Indonesia. Finally, as commander, Carrier Strike Group 3, he deployed to the Middle East, supporting Operations New Dawn (Iraq) and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).

Ashore, Faller was assigned to chief of legislative affairs for the Secretary of the Navy; served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Plans, Policy and Operations); served as a legislative fellow on the staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Ashore also served as head of Surface Nuclear Officer Programs and Placement at Navy Personnel Command and served as executive assistant to the Chief of naval operations. Finally, he served as commander, Navy Recruiting Command; as executive assistant to the commander, United States Pacific Command and commander, United States Central Command; and as Director of Operations, United States Central Command.

He retired from active duty on October 29, 2021, relinquishing command of SOUTHCOM to General Laura J. Richardson.

Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer PinDefense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf clusterNavy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf clusterLegion of Merit with four gold award starsMeritorious Service Medal with two award starsNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three award starsNavy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalJoint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clustersNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation with three bronze service starsNavy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E deviceNational Defense Service Medal with service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalSouthwest Asia Service Medal with service starGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service starNavy Recruiting Service RibbonOrder of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla, Grand Cross (Colombia) Military Medal for Distinguished Service, Grand Cross (Colombia) Unidentified Medal (Colombia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)Navy Rifle Sharpshooter RibbonCommand at Sea insigniaUnited States Southern Command Badge