VADM Lewis K. Crenshaw, USN (Retired)

Last Name: Crenshaw

First Name: Lewis

Middle Name: K.
Suffix: Jr

Nickname: Lou

Medals and Honors: Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, Individual Air Medal, Strike Flight Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal

ACNSL Offices and Committees: Alliances and Partnerships, Environment & Arctic Security Committee Chair

Rank: Vice Admiral

Service/Department: U.S. Navy

Last or Significant Assignment: Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Requirements and Assessments (N-8); Commander, Naval Region Europe

Areas of Experience: Defense Finances and Budget, Aviation Warfare, Europe, Middle East

Vice Adm. Lou Crenshaw is a native of Greenville, Alabama and a 1974 graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He is also a 1979 graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School where he was the first naval flight officer to be named as the most outstanding test pilot of his class.

Earning his Naval Flight Officer Wings in 1975, Crenshaw was a career naval flight officer, with over 3000 hours in the A-6 Intruder. His aviation assignment included Attack Squadron Sixty-five (VA-65), Attack Squadron Thirty-four (VA-34), and the Naval Air Test Center. During his career, he commanded Attack Squadron Eighty-five (VA-85), Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1), and Carrier Group Six/USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group. Crenshaw flew combat missions in Operation El Dorado Canyon and Operation Desert Storm. Additional sea assignments include air operations officer for Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight and operations officer of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1).

Ashore, Crenshaw had tours at the Naval Air Test Center and The Joint Staff (J-5) in the Pentagon. He also served as executive assistant to Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and as executive assistant and naval aide to the 70th and 71st Secretaries of the Navy. Crenshaw commanded Navy Region Europe, based in London, England and Naples, Italy and was the deputy commander of US Naval Forces, Europe and deputy commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet.

In the Pentagon, Crenshaw served as director of Assessments (N-81) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. He concluded his career as the deputy chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Requirements and Assessments (N-8), where he was responsible for developing the Navy’s budget.

After retiring from the Navy, VADM Crenshaw worked at Grant Thornton, LLP, retiring in 2013, where he was the Principal with responsibility for the firm’s national Aerospace and Defense practice, coordinating the delivery of tax, audit and business advisory services to over 50 clients.  Prior to this role, Lou served as the partner responsible for the Defense and Intelligence practice within the Global Public Sector of Grant Thornton, where he had experience managing and directing Defense/Intel  teams throughout the Department of Defense (DoD) to include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Defense Agencies, military services and national intelligence agencies.  Significant engagements included U.S. Marine Corps Audit, Washington Headquarters Service advisory services, Defense Logistics Agency A76/MEO support, Missile Defense Agency accounting support, Navy BRAC support and numerous strategic sourcing efforts throughout DoD. A Certified Defense Financial Manager, Lou is the Founder and President of Crenshaw Consulting Associates.