Doctor of the University
A Royal Navy veteran and tireless champion for LGBT+ people who serve in the Armed Forces.
Craig graduated in Economic History from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1989, where he was a member of the University Royal Naval Unit. After graduating, he joined the Royal Navy.
In a busy operational career, he deployed to the border counties of Northern Ireland during The Troubles and, in 1993, led helicopter fast rope teams in the Northern Arabian Gulf.
Craig was deputy navigator of the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible during Operation Bolton. On his return to the UK, he completed the Principal Warfare Officer Course, which led to a number of intelligence appointments.
On the day the ban on gay people serving in the military was ended, Craig came out. He led challenging work to restore the Armed Forces Covenant for the serving LGBT+ community, in an organisation ill-prepared for its moment of inclusion. In 2005, Craig was awarded an MBE for services to equality and human rights.
In 2020 Craig created an anthology book about the damage done by the Armed Forces ‘gay ban’. His work to give a voice to veterans affected by the policy of exclusion led to the formation of a charity.
As the first Chief Executive and later Executive Chair of Fighting With Pride, he led a campaign for restorative justice, which culminated in the publication of Lord Etherton’s LGBT Veterans Independent Review in May 2023.
In July 2023 the Prime Minister made an apology on behalf of the British Nation and announced substantial reparations. Craig was recently appointed an Independent Panel Member of the Government’s Financial Recognition Scheme.
