STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS CROFT
Kansas’ 8th District
Service: U.S. Army
Christopher D. Croft, Sr. commissioned in the Transportation Corps upon graduation from the University of Central Florida December 1987. COL Croft served in a variety of assignments including: Platoon Leader, 28th Transportation Platoon, Separate and Installation Transportation Officer, 22d Area Support Group, Vicenza, Italy; Company Commander and Battalion S2/3 (Operations), 725th Main Support Battalion, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Aide-de-Camp in the Military Traffic Management Command and United States Transportation Command; Chief of Plans and Exercises, Division Transportation Officer, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas and Tikrit, Iraq; Support Operations Officer, 2d Brigade Combat Team, Baqubah, Iraq; Commander, 101st Sustainment Brigade (Rear) (Provisional) and Battalion Commander, 106th Transportation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Balad, Iraq.
COL Croft served for two years as the Chief, Field Grade Logistics Assignment Branch and one as the Chief, Force Sustainment Division of the Army’s Human Resources Command (HRC). He also served as the Director, Officer Personnel Management System – Task Force for HRC prior to attending Columbia University as an Army War College Fellow. He spent his year studying leadership, leader development, and change management from one of the leaders in the field. He served as the Director, Center for Army Leadership from 2013 until 2017.
COL Croft is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College in 2000 and School of Advanced Military Studies in 2001 at Fort Leavenworth, KS. COL Croft’s military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (1OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4OLCs), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He earned the Pathfinder, Airborne, Air Assault, and Combat Action Badges.
In the summer of 2018, COL Croft, retired, continued his service by running and winning District 8 of the Kansas State House of Representatives. He serves on the following committees: Veteran and Military Affairs, Commerce, and Taxation. Rep. Croft sent a food sales tax reduction bill to the Governor in 2019. In 2020, he authored or co-authored 14 bills. His bill on Reciprocal Occupational Licensing passed the House and has the full support of both parties but was held up due to COVID-19 protocols. In 2021, Rep. Croft will re-submit his licensing bill and continue to work to re- open Kansas. Key issues include creating jobs, growing the workforce, and building a Soldier’s Home in Northeast Kansas.
Rep. Croft was selected by his peers to serve on the board of the Republican House Campaign Committee (RHCC) focused on recruiting, fundraising, and developing the House members. The members of the board selected him to serve as the Chairman for 2019 and 2020. During his tenure, the team broke the all-time fundraising records for all chambers, doubling the results of the previous committee. Chris Croft is married to the former Connie Norwood, they have two children and five grandchildren.