Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
Retiring Crane Community Support Director Matt Craig was honored last week for his decades of work “from inside and outside the fence” advocating for Naval Support Activity Crane.
State Rep. Chris May, R-Bedford, presented Craig with the Circle of Corydon, an award that honors Hoosiers who have made remarkable contributions to the betterment of Indiana and its people, demonstrating through life and service, qualities exemplified by the state’s greatest citizens.
May said Craig’s loyalty to the Crane base “has been truly tremendous.”
“Matt Craig is a walking encyclopedia for Crane. The amount of knowledge he can recite on a whim is amazing to me,” May said.
Craig, of Heltonville, joined Radius Indiana as the Crane Community Support director in 2016 after retiring from NSWC Crane following a 30-year career.
At Radius, Craig also worked with the Radius Indiana Business Development staff to increase research opportunities and investment in the region, as well as collaborate with the Radius Defense & National Security Advisory Council, the Southern Indiana Business Alliance and the Indiana Office of Defense Development.
NSA Crane Cmdr. Luis “Homie” Martinez presented Craig a plaque from Team Crane to commemorate his contributions and compared Craig’s work to the role of a point guard on a basketball team.
“The true measure of a point guard is how many assists they dish out,” he said. “A true point guard isn’t there for the glory, you don’t care how many points you score, you just want the team to win. Everything you and the team have built so far is the true point guard mentality.”
Angie Lewis, technical director of NSWC Crane, worked for Craig at the start of her career.
Lewis credited Craig with leading a culture change at Crane that underscored the importance of communication, continuous improvement, alignment and advocacy.
“When I tell the Crane story today, it really is the fruit of so many labors that you started,” she said. “When I think of those foundational principles you instilled within us, I hope you look at the organization now and you’re deeply proud of the work that has happened in building national technical leadership.”
Craig recalled early conversations with Team Crane leaders about what NSWC Crane “could be and should be.”
“We didn’t think you’d get there nearly as fast as you’ve managed to do,” he said. “I appreciate what you’ve become and I appreciate the kind words.”
Jeff Quyle, CEO and president of Radius Indiana, said it was former Radius CEO Becky Skillman, who recognized the region needed someone who understood Crane’s importance to the region. Craig embraced the role, educating public officials, community leaders, economic development organizations to understand the importance of Crane and engage with one another.
“Matt, you are clearly one of the most important people that has worked at Radius because of what you did to break down barriers, put gates in the fences to let us all talk to one another,” Quyle said.
Craig began his career as a radio electronics technician in the Indiana Army National Guard and then served in the U.S. Navy as a fire control radar technician, Leading Petty Officer. He is a member of the American Society of Naval Engineers, the National Defense Industries Association and the Association of Old Crows. During his distinguished career, Craig received the Meritorious Civilian Service award for his service to NSWC Crane. Craig’s last appointment at NSWC was as the deputy technical director and interim technical director.