FMA National President Craig Carter was named Manager of the Year at FMA’s 86th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar in March 2024. Carter was also re-elected as National President of FMA, where he will serve a two-year term.

A recipient of many awards over the course of his career with the Department of the Navy (DON), Craig Carter is particularly proud of receiving the Civilian Service Commendation Medal in December 2021. This award is presented to Department of the Navy civilians “who distinguish themselves by performing well above their specialty or grade,” and clearly illustrates Craig’s contributions as a manager to the mission at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and the DON. He now adds FMA’s prestigious Manager of the Year award to his mantle, as Carter embodies the Association’s mission at his agency, his community, and as a leader within FMA.

Craig’s career with the Department of Defense has spanned more than 33 years, all with the Department of the Navy. He began his service working for the Naval Public Works at Naval Station Norfolk in 1990. In 1999 he began work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). He was promoted to first line supervisor inside the nuclear division in 2007 and has served as Zone Manager and Assistant Project Superintendent for the Special Emphasis Division performing major component replacement and maintenance on the Navy’s fleet of nuclear aircraft carriers. Most recently, Craig served as both Deputy Director and Director of the Covid Management Team at NNSY since the COVID-19 global pandemic hit our nation.

Recently re-elected as National President of FMA, Carter’s leadership within the association is a model for all managers in public service. He has served tirelessly in every capacity possible, most notably as National President, but also as National Vice President, Chapter 3 (Norfolk Naval Shipyard) President, Region 2 Treasurer, Chapter 3 Treasurer, and National Membership Coordinator.

He was President of FMA Chapter 3 when the chapter twice won the “President’s Award” for best FMA chapter in 2017 and 2018, becoming the first chapter to win that award in consecutive years in the nearly 110-year history of the association. He won FMA’s Gil Guidry Award as best Chapter President in 2020 for his leadership at Chapter 3.

Since 2009, Craig has been one of the most successful recruiters of new members to FMA. He won the “Super Recruiter Award” in 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, recruiting more members than anyone else in the association. He recruited a record eighty-two new members into FMA in 2019. He is always informed on FMA issues and passionate about taking FMA’s story to Capitol Hill. He meets with legislators and their staff, committee staff, and administration officials about FMA legislative and policy priorities. He has provided testimony for the record in congressional hearings, official comments to administrative rulemaking, legislative language for amendments and bills, and talking points for Members of Congress. He also represents FMA on boards with the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, the Employee Thrift Advisory Council (which advises the Thrift Savings Plan), and multiple other avenues.

Craig participates in many community events in the Norfolk area with his chapter. Each year Chapter 3 conducts community events such as “Clean the Bay,” where chapter members clean up trash and debris from their shores and waterways. They participate in the Annual Breast Cancer Awareness March and have marched in the Portsmouth Memorial Day parade. Craig has been a faithful participant and leader in these events throughout his time as a manager. He is happily married to his wife Jo Ann and he has two stepsons and six granddaughters.

The FMA Manager of the Year award is presented annually to an outstanding manager or supervisor in the federal government who is a member of the Federal Managers Association. Chapters may nominate one member to their respective region director, and that officer submits up to two nominees from the region, along with supporting documentation, for consideration of the award. The selection committee reviews three categories in determining the winner:

• Workplace accomplishments/contributions

• FMA involvement at the chapter, regional or national levels

• Local community accomplishments/contributions

“FMA, the Department of the Navy, and our nation are privileged to have a leader like Craig Carter,” said Todd Wells, Executive Director of FMA. “His distinguished service on behalf of Norfolk Naval Shipyard and his leadership at the Federal Managers Association are hallmarks of what FMA stands for. His peers rightly recognize his many years of hard work, and he has earned both their respect and admiration which are reflected in him being named FMA’s Manager of the Year. Congratulations on this honor, and thank you, Craig, for your service.”