Croft originally joined the United States Air Force in 1972 before transferring to the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 1979 and joining the 128th Air Refueling Wing. He has acquired more than 3,300 hours flying in a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Cessna T-37 Tweet, and Northrop T-38 Talon. Croft's assignments have included tours of duty in the Gulf War and the Kosovo War.
