Craig G. Langhauser is an accomplished defense, aerospace, technology, and engineering executive whose career spans more than three decades of military service, government acquisition, research and development, program leadership, and private-sector business development. A retired U.S. Army Colonel and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Craig has built his professional reputation around leading people and organizations through complex challenges while maintaining a disciplined focus on mission, performance, innovation, and results. From managing sophisticated defense acquisition programs to developing emerging simulation and augmented-reality technologies, his career reflects an ability to connect strategic objectives with practical execution.
Craig’s leadership foundation was established during an extensive career as an officer in the United States Army, where he ultimately attained the rank of Colonel. His assignments exposed him to an unusually broad spectrum of defense technologies and operational requirements, including armored vehicles, battle tanks, missiles, robotics, target acquisition systems, software, modeling and simulation, and advanced training technologies. His responsibilities required him to operate at the intersection of engineering, acquisition, technology development, operational requirements, and organizational leadership, developing the perspective needed to manage large programs while understanding the needs of the people ultimately relying upon those systems.
That experience became particularly evident during Craig’s tenure as Product Manager for Advanced TOW Acquisition Systems. He managed a $1.2 billion program with an annual budget exceeding $150 million, directly supervised a government support organization of approximately 70 people, and coordinated contractor activities involving more than 100 personnel across multiple locations. Among his accomplishments was restructuring the development of a new ITAS battery power source, accelerating the program by approximately one year while projecting roughly $80 million in lifecycle savings. His work demonstrated a recurring theme throughout his career: combining technical understanding with disciplined program management to improve cost, schedule, and performance outcomes.
Craig subsequently served as Deputy Director of the Tank-Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center, where he helped support an organization encompassing more than 1,000 civilian and military personnel and an annual budget exceeding $400 million. His responsibilities included advising on strategic plans and technology development supporting the Future Combat System, Future Tactical Truck System, Stryker family of vehicles, and operational requirements arising from conflicts in Iraq. He also led multi-organizational teams responsible for developing and integrating add-on armor kits for military vehicles, contributing to the fielding of more than 6,000 kits to operational units. The assignment further strengthened his ability to bring multiple organizations together around technically demanding, mission-critical objectives.
As Project Manager for Combined Arms Tactical Trainers within PEO Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation, Craig expanded his leadership responsibilities to nearly 60 separate projects representing more than $500 million in annual activity. He directed the development, production, testing, fielding, and lifecycle management of training systems and simulators supporting U.S. Army, Joint Force, and allied requirements. His work included synchronizing major simulation programs and establishing virtual terrain database centers that improved responsiveness and supported virtual mission rehearsal. The position required extensive interaction with senior military leaders, other U.S. services, USSOCOM, the Department of Defense, Congress, foreign governments, and industry, giving Craig significant exposure to the diverse stakeholders involved in major defense programs.
Craig later commanded the U.S. Army’s Simulation and Training Technology Center, directing applied research and advanced technology development across more than 30 programs representing over $120 million annually. He undertook a comprehensive review of the organization’s technology portfolio and structure to better align research investments with customer requirements. He also guided the organization through a realignment with the Army Research Laboratory, balancing the benefits of integration with the importance of maintaining the STTC’s entrepreneurial culture. His leadership encompassed organizational transformation, emerging technologies, investment prioritization, innovation, and the stewardship of complex research programs.
Following his military career, Craig successfully transferred his leadership experience into the commercial sector. At CAE, he was recruited to establish a new engineering services operation and assumed responsibility for business development, program execution, staffing, training, facilities, and service delivery. He developed the organizational structure, forward pricing rates, and processes necessary to transform the operation from a business segment into a wholly owned subsidiary. During this period, the organization’s five-year business development pipeline grew from tens of millions of dollars to more than $2 billion in potential opportunities that CAE could pursue. Craig also reported quarterly to the company’s Special Security Agreement Board of Directors, adding direct boardroom exposure to his extensive executive leadership experience.
Craig continued his private-sector career with Rockwell Collins and Collins Aerospace, where his responsibilities evolved across product development, program leadership, and business development. He managed internal research and development and support funding associated with simulator displays, projectors, and near-eye mixed-reality products before progressing into increasingly senior business development responsibilities. As Senior Business Development Manager, he pursued tactical augmented-reality opportunities, and as Associate Director of Business Development, he managed a team responsible for engaging Surface, Space, and Optronics customers within the Simulation, Training, and Services business. His work included customer engagement surrounding tactical augmented-reality systems and contributed to a contract with USSOCOM involving drone pilots.
Across these assignments, Craig has developed deep expertise in program and project management, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, software and technology development, strategic planning, business strategy, business development, organizational growth, R&D management, requirements development, process improvement, and team leadership. His professional profile also reflects substantial experience in strategic alliances, DoD contracting, bids and proposals, commercialization, solution selling, and emerging technologies. His ability to operate comfortably across technical, operational, and commercial environments is especially relevant to organizations seeking leadership capable of translating sophisticated technologies into viable programs and sustainable business opportunities. His professional skills profile further documents extensive recognition in program management, project management, strategic planning, systems engineering, business development, and simulation-related disciplines.
Craig’s educational and professional development reflects the same multidisciplinary perspective that has defined his career. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the USAF Air War College. His credentials include DAWIA Level III qualifications in Program Management, Systems Engineering, and Science & Technology Management, alongside additional acquisition-related certifications. He has also contributed to the professional body of knowledge through publications addressing advanced military systems, including work concerning the Improved Target Acquisition System and the development of advanced armored platforms.
Beyond formal executive positions, Craig has remained engaged with the broader simulation, training, science, and technology communities. His involvement has included service with the National Training & Simulation Association and the I/ITSEC community, including committee and subcommittee responsibilities. He has delivered briefings and presentations extensively throughout his military and corporate career and brings broad international exposure gained through work involving allied nations, foreign governments, defense organizations, and global stakeholders. His experience has required him to communicate technical and strategic matters effectively across audiences ranging from engineers and program teams to senior executives, military leaders, government officials, and boards.
Craig now brings that breadth of experience to his pursuit of board and advisory opportunities. As he transitions away from full-time executive work, his objective is to devote more of his experience to helping organizations and leadership teams grow. He has previously provided consulting and guidance to others and sees board service as a natural extension of a career spent developing people, solving difficult problems, aligning organizations around strategic objectives, and turning ambitious ideas into executable plans. He is particularly interested in organizations operating within defense, aerospace, vehicles, and technology, while remaining open to opportunities across industries and company sizes.
Underlying Craig’s professional achievements is a strong orientation toward service and teamwork. His career has repeatedly placed him in positions where success depended not simply upon individual expertise, but upon building capable teams and creating alignment among people with different responsibilities and perspectives. His continued involvement in efforts supporting veterans reflects a connection to the military community that extends beyond his formal service. For Craig, leadership is ultimately about applying experience where it can make a meaningful difference—helping people succeed, enabling organizations to grow, and ensuring that strategy is translated into measurable action.
Character:
Craig demonstrates character through a career grounded in service, accountability, teamwork, and responsibility for consequential missions, organizations, and people. His continued involvement in supporting veterans and his desire to use his experience to help organizations and individuals grow reflect a leadership philosophy that extends beyond professional advancement.
Knowledge:
Combining engineering and technical expertise with extensive experience in defense acquisition, simulation and training, software, systems engineering, R&D, program management, and business development. His knowledge has been developed across military, government, and commercial environments, enabling him to understand complex challenges from operational, technical, strategic, and business perspectives.
Strategic:
Craig has repeatedly been entrusted with aligning substantial resources, technology portfolios, organizations, and business opportunities with long-term objectives. Whether managing programs valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, restructuring organizations, directing R&D investments, or helping develop multibillion-dollar opportunity pipelines, he brings a disciplined ability to connect strategic vision with practical execution.
Communication:
He has spent decades communicating with senior military leaders, executives, boards, government officials, international stakeholders, customers, engineers, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams. His extensive briefing and presentation experience enables him to translate technically complex subjects into clear strategic discussions while building the relationships and organizational alignment required for effective decision-making.
