Craig Girard

Craig Girard, D-11420, is one of the most decorated formation skydivers in history. A competitor, coach, and mentor, his name is synonymous with excellence in both 4-way and 8-way formation skydiving.

Craig made his first jump in 1981, and by 1986, he had joined the elite U.S. Army Golden Knights. There, he quickly rose to prominence as a dominant force in competitive formation skydiving. During his time with the Golden Knights, Craig helped lead the team to three World Championships in 8-way formation skydiving (1989, 1991, and 1993) and captured back-to-back World Cup victories in 1988 and 1990.

After leaving the Army, Craig joined the legendary Arizona Airspeed, where his competitive momentum only accelerated. As a core team member, Airspeed became one of the most successful formation skydiving teams of all time. Craig would go on to win a total of 8 World Championships (five in 8-way and three in 4-way), 18 U.S. National Championships in 8-way, 6 U.S. National Championships in 4-way, 5 World Cups in 8-way, and 2 World Cups in 4-way. His career has been marked by consistency, longevity, and elite performance.

Craig also played a pivotal role in some of the sport’s most historic large formation achievements, including the 300-way, 357-way, and 400-way world record skydives. These jumps showcased both technical precision and global teamwork at an extraordinary scale.

Beyond the medals and records, Craig has spent decades as a full-time professional skydiver and coach. He has mentored countless athletes across generations. His technical expertise and steady leadership helped shape the modern competitive environment, influencing teams and national programs around the world.

He also served as the Chief Freefall Instructor at Skydive Dubai, where he played a major role in building one of the most visible and advanced skydiving programs globally.

Craig was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2012. With more than 32,000 jumps and a career spanning over 40 years, Craig “Sarge” Girard remains a benchmark of excellence and an athlete whose influence continues to be felt across the skydiving world.