Craig S. Faller

Craig S. Faller is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as Commander of United States Southern Command. He held senior joint and naval staff positions across the Pacific and Latin America, interacting with allied and partner militaries, interagency organizations, and multinational coalitions. Faller's career spanned operational commands, staff billets with strategic planning, and roles in maritime security cooperation with nations across the Western Hemisphere.

Early life and education

Faller was born in Miami, Florida and graduated from the United States Naval Academy, where he trained alongside classmates who would serve in the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Coast Guard. He later attended the Naval War College and completed joint professional military education at institutions such as the Joint Forces Staff College and courses affiliated with the National War College and United States Army War College. Faller also participated in exchange and liaison programs with allied staffs, including engagements with the Royal Navy, Canadian Forces, Brazilian Navy, and Colombian Navy.

Naval career

Faller's early sea tours included service in guided-missile destroyers and frigates, deploying to regions including the Persian Gulf, Caribbean Sea, Eastern Pacific Ocean, and the Western Pacific Ocean. His ashore assignments encompassed billets on the staffs of numbered fleets such as United States Pacific Fleet, United States Fleet Forces Command, and on the staff of unified combatant commands including United States Southern Command and United States Central Command. He served in roles with the Chief of Naval Operations staff, contributed to capability development with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and worked in joint planning with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and components of the Department of Defense.

Commands and operational deployments

Faller commanded at sea, including commands of surface warships and destroyer squadrons that executed operations in support of Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He led task forces and multinational maritime coalitions conducting counter-narcotics, counter-piracy, and maritime security operations alongside partners such as Naval Forces Southern Command, Standing NATO Maritime Group, Inter-American Defense Board, and regional navies across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Sea. As a flag officer he commanded combined and joint organizations, coordinating with entities like the U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Pacific Command, United States Southern Command's interagency partners, the Inter-American Development Bank, and partner militaries in multinational exercises with Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.

Awards and honors

Faller received multiple military decorations and commendations recognizing operational leadership and joint service, including awards issued by the Department of Defense and service-specific honors from the United States Navy. His decorations reflect participation in major campaigns such as operations in the Middle East and multiservice efforts across the Western Hemisphere. He has been honored in forums involving the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and regional security conferences attended by representatives from the Organization of American States, United Nations, and partner armed forces.

Personal life

Faller is married and has family ties that accompanied various worldwide assignments, engaging with community and veteran organizations including chapters of the Association of the United States Navy, Fleet Reserve Association, and regional nonprofit groups in Miami, Tampa, and command areas across Latin America. In retirement he has participated in speaking engagements and advisory roles involving institutions such as the Center for a New American Security, RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, and defense industry and academic partners.

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:United States Navy admirals Category:United States Naval Academy alumni