The Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State University is hosting "Presidential Advance, NYC 9/11", a presentation by Craig Ray, former Special Assistant to the President of the United States, and Deputy Director of Advance for Event Coordination during two Presidential administrations. The program will take place on April 4 at 6 p.m. in the John Grisham Room.

Ray has connections with Mississippi, but will be speaking on his experience gained while he served in senior-level positions for three United States Presidents and for two state governors.

He will give an insider's account into working on a Presidential Advance Team, who is in charge of planning, organizing, and executing Presidential events around the globe. He will also expand on his experiences with 9/11 that transformed America.

Craig Ray is the Director of Visit Mississippi, the Tourism Division of the Mississippi Development Authority. In this role, he promotes Mississippi as a travel destination and film location by highlighting the state’s culture, heritage, history, natural resources, and recreational opportunities through a multi-faceted marketing effort. Ray oversees a diverse number of programs and initiatives from Mississippi’s 13 welcome centers to the Mississippi Film Office.

Ray returned to the Mississippi Development Authority in 2016 after serving as a Principal in The Talon Group, LLC, a government relations firm. He previously served as the Director of the Tourism Division at the Mississippi Development Authority from 2004 – 2009. During his tenure he played a key role in developing the branding campaign for “Mississippi – The Birthplace of America’s Music” as well as launching the groundbreaking Mississippi Blues Trail.

He also served as Executive Producer of a number of statewide and national events, including Mississippi Night at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles and the Mississippi GRAMMY Celebration. Prior to returning to Mississippi, he served in senior-level positions for three United States Presidents and for two state governors.

Ray graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He has one daughter, Emma Claire.