John W. Craine Jr.


John W. Craine Jr. is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who was appointed president of the State University of New York Maritime College on May 27, 2006 after serving as the acting president since June, 2005. He joined SUNY in October, 2001, and served as the interim president of the Maritime College until July, 2002, when he became the founding president of the State University's Neil D. Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce. In January, 2003, he served as chairman of the board of trustees Task Force on Efficiency and Effectiveness of the State University. In March, 2004, he joined the Research Foundation, State University of New York, as senior vice president.

Background and naval career

During his thirty-three-year career in the U.S. Navy, Craine, a fighter pilot, held several senior leadership positions, including command of a fighter squadron, a naval air station, and 26 naval bases and air stations in the Atlantic Fleet. He culminated his service as Director, Naval Training, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and Chief of Naval Education and Training, overseeing 168 training activities that provided training for 440,000 officers, soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines each year, in programs ranging from enlisted basic and technical training to naval flight training.
Craine is a graduate of Christchurch School in Christchurch, Virginia, Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and is a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College. He and his spouse, Wendy, reside on campus. They have two grown sons.