Pentagon's School System Director Steps Down After Less Than 8 Months

The leader of the Pentagon's school system is leaving his job. Paul Craft, the director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), is resigning at the end of this month. He had only been in the role for less than eight months. A Defense Department official confirmed his departure to The Hill on Thursday, but did not explain why Craft is stepping down.

DoDEA runs 160 schools across 11 countries, seven U.S. states, and two U.S. territories. More than 67,000 children of military members and civilian staff attend these schools. The agency's mission is to give military families access to quality education, no matter where they are stationed around the world.

Craft took over as DoDEA's director on March 9. Before that, the role was held by Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, who also stepped down in early March. The Pentagon did not say at the time why she left either. Before Schiavino-Narvaez, Thomas Brady, a retired colonel, led DoDEA from 2014 to 2024.

A Pentagon official praised Craft's work while he was in charge. The official said Craft helped sharpen the focus on the fundamentals, which included strong classrooms, well-trained teachers, and high academic standards. Craft also updated a key plan called the Blueprint for Continuous Improvement to help the agency better serve students and families.

The official also said Craft worked to cut unnecessary red tape, which means he removed steps that slowed things down and wasted resources. This helped get more support directly to local school communities. Craft is a retired colonel from the Ohio Army National Guard, so he understood the challenges that military families face.

The Pentagon said Craft recognized how important it is for military parents to trust their children's schools. When parents feel confident about their kids' education, they can focus better on their military duties. The official said the Pentagon is grateful for Craft's service and wishes him and his family well.