Craig Clapperton

{{Short description|U.S. Navy admiral}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox military person

|honorific_prefix =

|name = Craig A. Clapperton

|honorific_suffix =

|image = Craig A. Clapperton (5).jpg

|image_upright =

|alt =

|caption = Clapperton as a vice admiral, 2022

|native_name =

|native_name_lang =

|birth_name =

|other_name =

|nickname = Clap

|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1967}}

|birth_place =

|death_date =

|death_place =

|placeofburial =

|placeofburial_label =

|placeofburial_coordinates =

|allegiance = United States

|branch = United States Navy

|branch_label =

|serviceyears = 1989–present

|serviceyears_label =

|rank = Vice Admiral

|rank_label =

|servicenumber =

|unit =

|commands = United States Fleet Cyber Command
United States Tenth Fleet
Combined Joint Task Force, Cyber
Carrier Strike Group 12
{{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}}
{{USS|Mount Whitney|LCC-20}}
VAQ-141

|battles =

|battles_label =

|awards = Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Air Medal
Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership

|memorials =

|alma_mater = Pennsylvania State University (BS)
United States Naval War College (MA)

|spouse =

|children =

|relations =

|laterwork =

|signature =

|signature_size =

|signature_alt =

|website =

|module =

}}

Craig A. "Clap" Clapperton (born 1967){{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DD8BVZeVFP4C&q=Clapperton&pg=PA197 |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty |date=October 1, 1990 |page=185 |publisher=Bureau of Naval Personnel |access-date=June 14, 2021}} is a United States Navy vice admiral and Naval Flight Officer who serves as the commander of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and the United States Tenth Fleet since 4 August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Career/Detailing/Flag/August%202022%20Roster%20(Public).pdf?ver=vzpStNm5N-p4bjS-A6TRVQ%3d%3d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802031031/https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Career/Detailing/Flag/August%202022%20Roster%20%28Public%29.pdf?ver=vzpStNm5N-p4bjS-A6TRVQ%3D%3D|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 August 2022|title=United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), August 2022|date=2022-08-01|access-date=2022-08-02|website=MyNavyHR}} He most recently served as the commander of Combined Joint Task Force, Cyber from 30 June 2021 to 7 June 2022. He previously served as commander of Carrier Strike Group 12 from 7 May 2020 to 17 June 2021.

He was also deputy director of operations of United States Cyber Command, with command tours as commanding officer of the {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}} from July 2015 to July 2017 and commanding officer of {{USS|Mount Whitney|LCC-20}} from November 2012 to July 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2591458/flag-officer-assignments/|title=Flag Officer Assignments|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2021/04/30/navy-announces-new-flag-assignments-including-new-undersea-warfare-director|title=Navy Announces New Flag Assignments; Including New Undersea Warfare Director|date=April 30, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Career/Detailing/Flag/July%202021%20Roster%20(Public).pdf?ver=Uo9Pv4FbsCXUs97H0t5s8g%3d%3d|title=July 2021 Roster (Public)|access-date=2021-07-10|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182322/https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Career/Detailing/Flag/July%202021%20Roster%20(Public).pdf?ver=Uo9Pv4FbsCXUs97H0t5s8g%3d%3d|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2663664/carrier-strike-group-12-holds-change-of-command/|title=Carrier Strike Group 12 Holds Change of Command|website=United States Navy}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/369452/carrier-strike-group-12-holds-change-command|title=Carrier Strike Group 12 Holds Change of Command|website=DVIDS}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/399211/carrier-strike-group-12-holds-change-command|title=Carrier Strike Group 12 Holds Change of Command|website=DVIDS}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/military/article_bdda4c81-13c3-5229-888e-61d330c26fda.html|title=Aircraft carrier Roosevelt, strike group get new captains while deployed|first=Mike|last=Hixenbaugh|website=pilotonline.com|date=July 21, 2015 }}{{Cite web|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2017/07/30/change-of-command-for-san-diego-based-uss-theodore-roosevelt/|title=Change of Command for San Diego-Based USS Theodore Roosevelt|first=Chris|last=Jennewein|date=July 31, 2017|website=Times of San Diego}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sd-me-roosevelt-command-20170727-story.html|title=The 'Big Stick' gets a new skipper|first=Carl|last=Prine|website=baltimoresun.com|date=July 27, 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/navy-fires-two-more-commanders-1.197792|title=Navy fires two more commanders|website=Stars and Stripes}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uscarriers.net/lcc20history.htm|title=USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20) HISTORY|access-date=2021-06-29}} He also commanded the Shadowhawks of Electronic Attack Squadron 141 (VAQ-141), relinquishing command in September 2007 to Commander Michael D. McKenna.{{cite web|url=https://www.mcasiwakuni.marines.mil/Portals/112/Docs/news-section/kintaishimbun/Shimbun070914.pdf|page=3|title=The Kintai Shimbun|date=2007-09-14}}

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Clapperton graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, commissioning via the NROTC program in 1989 and designated as a Naval Flight Officer upon completion of flight training in 1991. He would then go on to fly the EA-6B Prowler in various squadrons. In 2008, he earned an M.A. degree in National Strategy and Security Studies from the United States Naval War College (with highest distinction) and was a member of the college's elite Stockdale group. He is also a distinguished graduate of the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command and completed nuclear power training in 2010. He was the 2007 recipient of the Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Biographies/BioDisplay/Article/2236452/rear-admiral-craig-clapperton/|title=Rear Admiral Craig Clapperton|website=www.navy.mil}}

In March 2023, Clapperton was nominated for reappointment as vice admiral, with the addition of Navy Space Command to his assignment.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/492?s=1&r=6|title=PN492 — Vice Adm. Craig A. Clapperton — Navy, 118th Congress (2023-2024)|date=2023-03-30|access-date=2023-04-01|website=U.S. Congress}}{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3348557/flag-officer-announcements/|title=Flag Officer Announcements|date=2023-03-31|access-date=2023-04-01|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}