Rear Admiral Craig Wood is the Deputy Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), headquartered in Portugal. Under SACEUR’s Operational Command, STRIKFORNATO integrates the most powerful combat credible maritime strike forces into NATO operations, providing strategic effects across the Alliance's Theatre of Operations.
Craig was educated in the Highlands of Scotland and joined the Royal Navy in 1989. He has Commanded 4 times at sea, from patrol boat to Type 45 Destroyer. He also Commanded the Royal Navy’s Surface Flotilla, and Coalition Task Force Sentinel. Staff appointments have included Navy Command Headquarters, UK Ministry of Defence, the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters, and NATO Headquarters, Brussels.
He is a graduate of the UK Defence Academy Advanced, and Higher Command and Staff courses, gaining a Master’s degree in Defence Studies. He was appointed CBE in the 2021 New Year Honours List.
Craig is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers. He enjoys mountaineering, winter sports and, recently, triathlon. He holds a commercial pilots’ licence and is a qualified deer manager.