Craig Bender

Craig Bender has a wealth of experience in the medical technology industry, spanning various roles and companies. Craig currently works as the Vice President of R&D (AIX) at Alphatec Spine, a position they began in March 2022. Prior to this, Bender served as the Director of Programs & Services, Surgical Instrumentation R&D at Johnson & Johnson Vision from July 2018 to February 2022.

In 2018, Bender briefly worked at Avanos Medical as an AI Program Manager. From 2014 to 2017, they held the position of Head of Diagnostics R&D (Sr. Director) at Alcon, a Novartis company, where they provided strategic direction and executive leadership in the development of diagnostic and imaging devices.

Bender's earlier experience includes serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Vice President of Research & Development at WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc. from June 2008 to October 2014. Craig drove technical product development, led a high-performance team, and successfully launched multiple generations of intraoperative diagnostic devices.

From 2002 to 2008, Bender worked for Advanced Medical Optics/IntraLase (now Johnson & Johnson Vision), taking on various roles such as Global Sr. Product Manager, Director of Program Management, and Project Manager. Craig was responsible for new product releases, team leadership, and market strategies.

Bender's career began at Stryker Endoscopy in 2001, where they served as a Project Engineer, leading a team and generating significant revenue. Before that, they worked as a Senior Product Manager at GenRad and as a Business/Product Manager at International Rectifier.

From 1995 to 1999, Bender worked at Computer Sciences Corp/Nichols Research/Advanced Marine Enterprises as a Section Chief, Project Manager, and Senior Project Engineer, providing technical engineering and programmatic support to the Navy.

Overall, Bender's work experience showcases their leadership, strategic direction, and successful product development in the medical technology industry.

Craig Bender attended the United States Naval Academy from 1984 to 1988, where they earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a focus on Communications and Optics. Craig later pursued a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Strategic Management and Finance at the University of Maryland from 1997 to 1999.