Craig Michael Calkins, a U.S. Army major serving in Italy, was honored Oct. 18 by the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture as one of two Outstanding Alumni of 2024.

Calkins earned a M.S. degree in rangeland ecology and watershed management at UW in 2020. He is a 2005 graduate of Cody High School who completed a bachelor’s degree at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska, in 2008.

Calkins went on to veterinary school at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, from 2008-2012, after which he joined the army. Coming up on 13 years of Army service, his sights are set on doing a full career in the military.

“My intention is to return to Wyoming (hopefully Park County) and do some sort of veterinary practice when I am done,” he said.

Calkins is married to his high school sweetheart, Rebecca, a Cody High School graduate of 2006. They have three children, Ella, 12; Clayton, 10; and Hailey, 4.

The master’s degree work in the College of Agriculture was all done in person on campus in Laramie.

“In order to stay in the Army, we have to go back to school for advanced training,” he explained.

From UW, Calkins then went to the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he earned another master’s degree in operational studies before moving to Italy.

He is currently stationed at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, and is scheduled to be promoted to lieutenant colonel in March.

He currently serves as the deputy commander and senior veterinarian for Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy. Generally speaking, the Army is the only branch with veterinarians, he said.

Army veterinarians provide veterinary care to government-owned animals such as working dogs or military working equines, “but unfortunately, no horses in Europe,” he said.

Army vets also provide food protection and inspection services for all of the human food that is consumed at Department of Defense facilities, similar to what USDA veterinarians do in the states, he added. They also provide veterinary care for service members’ pets.

“We are responsible for seven clinics spread across southern Europe and provide food inspection for all of the food being procured in these areas, as well as some African countries,” Calkins said.