Major General Craig D. Hackett was born  December 21, 1948 in Los Angeles, California.  He was commissioned in the Infantry in 1971, upon graduation from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education.  He also earned a Masters Degree in Education Administration from the University of Southern California.

In addition to the Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses, MG Hackett’s military education includes the Army Aviation Rotary Wing Qualification Course, Airborne, Jumpmaster and Ranger Courses, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Harvard University JFK School of Government National Security Senior Service College Fellowship, Leadership Development Program at the Center for Creative Leadership and the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs National Security Course.  He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

MG Hackett has held a wide variety of command and staff positions throughout his career. Before arriving at Joint Command Southeast he was the Director of Materiel for the Army. His other assignments include: Director of Requirements, Force Development in ODCSOPS; Assistant Division Commander (Support) for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) & U.S. Army Hawaii at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; ODCSOPS, Director of Integration; Senior Army Fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations in New York City, New York; Commander, Task Force XXI Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Fort Hood, Texas; Commander, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment (Apache), 1st Cavalry Division during OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM; Commander, C Company, 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion, Aide-de-Camp to the Secretary of the Army; Company Executive/Operations Officer, and Battalion Adjutant in 3rd Aviation Battalion (Combat); Company Commander, 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) Fort Myer, Virginia; and Rifle/Support Platoon Leader, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  MG Hackett’s joint duty assignment was as Plans Officer J-5 United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. 

MG Hackett’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit (with two Oak Leaf Clusters); Bronze Star Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal; Senior Parachutist Badge; Master Army Aviator Badge; Ranger Tab; and Army Staff Identification Badge.

He is married to the former Patricia (Trish) Ann Robinson of Santa Fe, New Mexico.