Craig E. Steidle
Encyclopedia
Admiral Craig E. Steidle, USN, Ret., served as the first Associate Administrator of the Office of Exploration Systems at NASA (now known as the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate), an organization formed to implement NASA's human exploration of the solar system as announced in the Vision for Space Exploration
. Admiral Steidle also served as Program Manager of the Joint Strike Fighter Program. He is currently serving as a Visiting Professor in Aerospace Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy.
During his tenure with the United States Navy
, Admiral Steidle became most well known for his prominent role as Program Manager of the Joint Strike Fighter where he managed the "fly off" between the X-32 and the X-35 to determine what design would ultimately become the F-35 Lightning II
. Admiral Steidle also commanded the Navy’s F/A-18 program, the naval aviation’s largest production research and development program, as well as the largest foreign military sales program.
in 1968. In the Navy, he trained to become an attack pilot and flew carrier night combat missions in North Vietnam. In the 1980s he deployed on carriers, frigates, and cruisers in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Steidle went on to command the Navy’s F/A-18 program, and then became the Director of the DOD Joint Advanced Strike Technology Office. The admiral opted to retire from the Navy in March 2000.
was also implemented by the Office of Exploration Systems during this time. The office was renamed the Exploration Systems Directorate in an August 2004 restructuring. Admiral Steidle officially resigned from the position of associate administrator for exploration systems in June 2005. He is currently serving as a Visiting Professor in Aerospace Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy.
, USMC, Ret. served as a peace monitor in Darfur
during the Darfur Conflict
and wrote a book about his experience, The Devil Came on Horseback
, which was turned into a documentary film of the same name that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
in 2007.
Vision for Space Exploration
The Vision for Space Exploration is the United States space policy which was announced on January 14, 2004 by President George W. Bush. It is seen as a response to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, the state of human spaceflight at NASA, and a way to regain public enthusiasm for space...
. Admiral Steidle also served as Program Manager of the Joint Strike Fighter Program. He is currently serving as a Visiting Professor in Aerospace Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy.
During his tenure with the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Admiral Steidle became most well known for his prominent role as Program Manager of the Joint Strike Fighter where he managed the "fly off" between the X-32 and the X-35 to determine what design would ultimately become the F-35 Lightning II
F-35 Lightning II
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...
. Admiral Steidle also commanded the Navy’s F/A-18 program, the naval aviation’s largest production research and development program, as well as the largest foreign military sales program.
Navy career
Admiral Steidle joined the Navy after he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MarylandAnnapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
in 1968. In the Navy, he trained to become an attack pilot and flew carrier night combat missions in North Vietnam. In the 1980s he deployed on carriers, frigates, and cruisers in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Steidle went on to command the Navy’s F/A-18 program, and then became the Director of the DOD Joint Advanced Strike Technology Office. The admiral opted to retire from the Navy in March 2000.
Post-Navy Career
After retiring from the Navy, Craig Steidle worked as a self-employed aerospace consultant. In January 2004, Adm. Steidle accepted a position as associate administrator of the Office of Exploration Systems at NASA. The purpose of the Office of Exploration Systems was to design, develop, and produce the new architecture and vehicles to send the United States beyond Earth orbit for the first time since the Apollo moon missions of the 1960s. The Centennial Challenges prize programCentennial Challenges
The Centennial Challenges are NASA space competition prize contests for non-government-funded technological achievements by American teams.-Current Challenges:...
was also implemented by the Office of Exploration Systems during this time. The office was renamed the Exploration Systems Directorate in an August 2004 restructuring. Admiral Steidle officially resigned from the position of associate administrator for exploration systems in June 2005. He is currently serving as a Visiting Professor in Aerospace Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Education
Craig Steidle grew up on Long Island, N.Y. and attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where he graduated with merit in 1968. Later, Steidle went to the University of Southern California and earned a Master of Science degree in systems management. He also attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he earned a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering.Personal
Craig Steidle's son, Captain Brian SteidleBrian Steidle
Brian Steidle is a former Marine Captain, military and security operations expert, and author who had worked on publicizing the Darfur conflict in Sudan...
, USMC, Ret. served as a peace monitor in Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
during the Darfur Conflict
Darfur conflict
The Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...
and wrote a book about his experience, The Devil Came on Horseback
The Devil Came on Horseback
The Devil Came on Horseback is a documentary film by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg illustrating the continuing Darfur Conflict in Sudan. Based on the book by former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle and his experiences while working for the African Union, the film version had its premiere at film...
, which was turned into a documentary film of the same name that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in 2007.