Airborne early warning and control
Craig became Chief of the Air Staff on 15 October 1985 and appointed Air Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on the same date. As Chief of the Air Staff he advised the British Government on the ordering of the Boeing Airborne early warning and control system and the development of the European Fighter programme. Having been promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 14 November 1988, he became Chief of the Defence Staff on 9 December 1988. As Chief of the Defence Staff he advised the British Government on the deployment of 45,000 servicemen and women during the Gulf War. He retired from service in 1991.