Pentagon education system director Paul Craft resigns after less than eight months

Paul Craft is stepping down as director of the Department of Defense Education Activity on October 31, 2026, after less than eight months in the position. The Pentagon announced his resignation without detailing reasons for his departure. Craft, who was appointed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to promote patriotic values and classical learning, is the second director to leave DoDEA in under two and a half years. DoDEA serves over 67,000 military children across 160 schools globally.

Resignation announcement and transition

• ▪Paul Craft is stepping down as director of the Department of Defense Education Activity effective October 31, 2026, less than eight months after taking the position on March 9, 2026.
• ▪The Pentagon stated it will provide additional information on the Department of Defense Education Activity leadership transition, though it did not specify when.
• ▪The Pentagon announced Paul Craft's resignation on October 15, 2026, but did not provide specific details on why he is stepping down.

Paul Craft's tenure and accomplishments

• ▪At the time of Paul Craft's hiring, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called him the right leader to reorient the Department of Defense Education Activity toward patriotic values and classical learning.
• ▪During Paul Craft's tenure, the Department of Defense Education Activity sharpened its focus on strong classrooms, well-prepared teachers, transparent parent engagement, and high academic standards.
• ▪Paul Craft led a comprehensive update to the Department of Defense Education Activity's Blueprint for Continuous Improvement, the agency's five-year strategic plan through 2030.

Paul Craft's experience and leadership

• ▪Before leading the Department of Defense Education Activity, Paul Craft served as the Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction and as a colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard.
• ▪During his tenure leading the Department of Defense Education Activity, Paul Craft reduced unnecessary bureaucracy and maximized resource delivery to local school communities.

DoDEA leadership history

• ▪Paul Craft is the second director to leave the Department of Defense Education Activity in less than two and a half years, following Beth Schiavino-Narvaez's resignation in early 2026.
• ▪Prior to Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, retired Colonel Thomas Brady led the Department of Defense Education Activity for ten years, from 2014 to 2024.