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Raymond Mershon Craig III (54)
Mr. Craig entered the United States Army in 1976 initially serving with the
82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, as a jump-qualified, MI Interrogator and
Arabic Linguist. Later selected for Commissioned Officer, Mr. Craig
continued to acquire various intelligence disciplines and experience, at
times, serving directly for several government agencies, such as the DEA,
AEC, CIA, United Nations, DIA and the IAEA. Mr. Craig’s military career is
marked by very unique assignments; diverse missions which carried him to
all four corners of the world. Mr. Craig also found time to complete his
Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York. In
December 1988, CPT Craig transitioned from Active Duty to Active Reserve,
to pursue commercial interests.
In 1988, Mr. Craig served as the Director of Operations for Potomac Marine
International, Inc. (PMI), a Washington, D.C.-based international maritime
company which represented US and Foreign-Flag vessel owners, tendering on
US AID, Catholic Relief Services, CARE, and many other international
government aid shipments (break-bulk, container, RO-RO, etc.). In 1989, Mr.
Craig founded Potomac System’s International, Inc. (subsidiary of PMI), and
served as its’ President until 1991. Potomac System’s specialized in
helping US companies expand their product line in other countries. In
conjunction with the Department’s of State and Commerce, we used an
“on-line” export licensing process, to streamline the application process.
Our focus was on difficult countries like South Africa and the Middle East.
In August 1990, Mr. Craig introduced PMI Foreign-Flag assets to the
Director of Chartering, Military Sealift Command. Politely informed that
there was little need for foreign-flag ships, Mr. Craig was contacted less
than 40 days later, with an urgent requirement for vessels to carry M1A1
tanks. Within 2 months, PMI had 9 foreign-flag ships on full time charter
carrying US military equipment to the Persian Gulf.
In March 1991, CPT Craig was recalled to Active Duty, assigned to the
Defense Intelligence Agency, and tasked with building and managing the
Desert Storm Document Exploitation effort. In conjunction with IBM, Kodak
and Intrafed, DIA’s DOCEX Branch (newly formed), processed over 4.5 million
pages of captured documents (paper, manuals, computer data, maps, etc.).
Using 26 native, security-cleared Iraqi translators, DOCEX provided
real-world intelligence, which was immediately disseminated directly to the
White House, NSA, CIA, DIA, Joint Command, and many other key agencies. In
December 1991, having worked for the military during the day, and managing
Operations at PMI at night, CPT Craig was forced to choose. By now, DOCEX
was heavily involved in support of the United Nations Nuclear Inspection Team
efforts in Iraq. Promoted (and extended a 2nd time), Major Craig continued
to provide key intelligence leading to selection of UN Inspector Team
target sites.
From May-July 1992, the electronic document capture system developed by
DOCEX was duplicated under Mr. Craig’s direction, and transported to South
America in support of Drug Enforcement Agency efforts.
Finally released from Active Duty (under Desert Storm orders), in August
1992, Mr. Craig returned to commercial interests, providing export, shipping
and export license consulting services. More and more energy was being
devoted to the South African telecommunications, broadcasting and mining
industries. Mr. Craig’s licensing success was favorably noted by many
leading industry executives, as well as the RSA government. When the US
State Department officially lifted import/export sanctions, Mr. Craig
explored countermine and mine-protected (MP) vehicle technologies,
recognized around the world. In 1994, Mr. Craig introduced a vehicle-based
landmine detection system, known to the South African Defense Force as the
“Chubby Mobile Mine Detection System”, manufactured by RSD. Mr. Craig
delivered a complete system (shipped in nine 20’ ISO containers), to the
Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD for testing under the Foreign Comparative Test
(FCT) program. In 1996, Mr. Craig founded LNY, Inc., in Manassas, Virginia,
to supply countermine equipment and products to the US Department of
Defense. Several significant contracts completed by Mr. Craig and LNY
include the RG-31 NYALA’s (10 passenger, MP APC) and the Mobile Mine
Detection System, configured for the US Army as the IVMMD System
(multi-vehicle, MP, field-repairable Route Detection and Proofing System.
Mr. Craig continues to support the US Department of Defense. Mr. Craig is
committed to seeking out aggressive, innovative companies, dedicated to the
development and fielding of safer more effective mine-protected vehicles
and new-technology landmine detection systems. As a principal of Critical
Solutions International, Mr. Craig is also focused on providing appropriate
solutions to other world governments in their struggle to protect and rid
themselves from the scourge of landmines, UXO and other improvised
explosive devices.
Mr. Craig is co-owner of Critical Solutions International, Inc., a defense
contractor specializing in military countermine and Humanitarian Demining
solutions.
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