Sergeant Major Crawford graduated from Brandon High School on June 6, 1994. He enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps and entered recruit training on June 19, 1994.  Following recruit training he was transferred to School of Infantry, Camp Lejeune, NC, for training as a basic Rifleman.

     On 2 December 1994, Private First Class Crawford reported to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines.  He was assigned as a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon  Gunner and deployed to Okinawa, Japan under the Unit Deployment Program with Company F.  He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in February 1996 and deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit  for operation Deny Flight in the Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Bosnia.  He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in December 1997.

    In September 1998, Sergeant Crawford transferred to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC.  He was further assigned to Second Recruit Training Battalion, Golf Company where he served as a Drill Instructor , Assistant Drill Instructor and Experienced Drill Instructor (EDI).

     On 10 February 2002, Sergeant Crawford was transferred  to  Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.  While there he served as a Squad Leader during a deployment to Okinawa, Japan ,  and Platoon Sergeant during  a deployment to Afghanistan with  the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.   He also served as Platoon Sergeant for Combined Anti Armor Team in Weapons Company  during a deployment in support of OIF.  On 1 December 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

     In August 2006, Staff Sergeant Crawford received orders to the Staff Non Commissioned Officer Academy, Quantico, VA as an instructor for the Career Course.  He also augmented Officer Candidate School as a Sergeant Instructor for two summers. He was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant on September 2007.

     In June 2008, he received orders to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines where he served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant  for Charlie Company  during a deployment  in support of OEF.  In December 2009, he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant and assigned to Weapons Company as the Company First Sergeant.  During this time, he deployed to Marjah, Afghanistan  for Operation Masturak in support of OEF 10.1.

     In December 2010, First Sergeant Crawford reported to Charlie Company (-), 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, in Corpus Christi, Texas, as the Inspector-Instructor First Sergeant.  In September 2013, he received orders to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.  He serve as the Company First Sergeant for Weapons Company and Charlie Company during a deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

     Sergeant Major Crawford was promoted to his current rank in April 2015.  His personal decorations include the Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award with Combat Distinguishing Device and Combat Action Ribbon with Gold star.