Charlie Cragin grew up in Cornish and graduated from Portland High School. Following graduation he joined the U.S. Navy and served on active duty for three years. He returned home and graduated from the University of Maine and its Law School. He also remained active in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Captain in 1998. In 1982 Charlie was the Republican nominee for governor of Maine. He was an attorney and partner in the Portland law firm of Verrill Dana LLP for 20 years and, in 1990, was appointed by President Bush to be Chairman and Chief Judge of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. In 1997, he left the Board and served in several senior positions in the Pentagon including Acting Under Secretary of Defense and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. In 2001 Charlie left the Pentagon and became a partner in the Washington, DC law firm of Blank Rome LLP. Two years later he joined defense contractor System Planning Corporation as its Senior Vice President for National Intelligence, Security and Response. While continuing to consult for SPC, Charlie returned home in 2006 and rejoined Verrill Dana and its subsidiary, Maine Street Solutions, as its Senior Government Affairs Counselor. In 2010 he also formed Cragin Et Al www.craginetal.com as a means of taking advantage of the phenomenal amount of talent working in boutique operations. Charlie retired from his consulting activities in 2016 but continues to serve as President of the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation.  He and his wife, Maureen divide their time between Raymond, ME & Sante Fe, NM accompanied by their stalwart companion Bos'n.

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