Ronald P. Clark

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Ronald P. Clark
Lt. Gen. Ronald P. Clark (2).jpg
Nickname(s)Ron
Lucky 6[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1988–present
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldUnited States Army Central
25th Infantry Division
192d Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsGulf War
Iraq War
Operation Inherent Resolve
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (4)

Ronald Patrick "Ron" Clark[2] is a United States Army lieutenant general who serves as the commanding general of United States Army Central since August 4, 2021.[3] He most recently served as the Chief of Staff, United States Indo-Pacific Command.[4] He previously served as the commander of the 25th Infantry Division, and, before that, as the Chief of Staff, United States Army Pacific.[5]

Clark was confirmed by the Senate on 29 April 2021 for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as the next commanding general of United States Army Central, replacing Terry R. Ferrell.[6][7]

Military career[]

Ron Clark was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1988. He began his career as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Scout Platoon Leader in 5th Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, both in Germany and in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he commanded B Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, and later served as aide-de-camp to the Commanding General, 25th Infantry Division (Light) and US Army Hawaii.

Clark served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer in 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He later served as aide-de-camp to the Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Clark was Commander of the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) both at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.[8]

Clark was the 41st Chief of Infantry Branch at United States Army Human Resources Command. He also served as Director of the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic at West Point. He was Commander of the 192d Infantry Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia. Next, Clark was the Army's Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy in the Pentagon. He followed that by serving as Deputy Commanding General – Support, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and in Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve. Clark also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff-Operations for the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

Clark replaced Major General Christopher G. Cavoli as commander of the 25th Infantry Division on 4 January 2018.[9]

Education[]

Clark earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy in 1988. He followed this with a Master of Military Art and Science degree at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Clark completed a United States Army College Fellowship at Duke University. He also graduated from the MIT Seminar XXI National Security Studies Program.[10]

Media[]

In 2006, then Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Clark appeared in a video about the usage of tanks during the deployment of the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Ramadi, Iraq.[11]

Also in 2006, Clark was featured in a video titled "Band of Brothers" about the deployment of the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Ramadi, Iraq.[12]

Clark was interviewed on 17 September 2018 by The West Point Center for Oral History and reflected on his career and leadership principles as well as the role that West Point has played in his life.[13]

Clark appeared in a video invitation to the 25th Infantry Division Association to Tropic Lightning Week on 5 October 2018.[14]

On 31 July 2020, Duke University Professor David Schanzer joined Major General Clark in a conversation about race, diversity, and inclusion in the U.S. Army. [15]

Awards and decorations[]

Combat Infantry Badge.svg Combat Infantryman Badge
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger tab
USAFSeniorParatrooper.jpg Senior Parachutist Badge
AirAssault.svg Air Assault Badge
United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png Army Staff Identification Badge
82nd Airborne Division CSIB.png 82nd Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge
506 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg 506th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
ArmyOSB.svg 4 Overseas Service Bars
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgBronze oakleaf-3d.svg Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Valorous Unit Award
U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Superior Unit Award
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgBronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal ribbon.svg Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Award numeral 4.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Personal life[]

Clark is married and has two adult children.

References[]

  1. ^ "USARCENT Leaders". U.S. Army Central. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  2. ^ "Ronald Patrick Clark". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  3. ^ Horton, Keon (2021-08-04). "USARCENT Welcomes New Commanding General". DVIDS.
  4. ^ "Chief of Staff, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Ceremony welcomes incoming chief of staff to USARPAC". U.S. Army. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  6. ^ "www.congress.gov". Congress.Gov. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ "General Officer Assignments". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  8. ^ Morin, Monte (30 August 2006). "Hunting insurgents a frustrating lesson in detective work". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  9. ^ Cole, William (22 December 2017). "Pentagon names new Schofield commander". Star Advertiser. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Maj. Gen. Ronald P. "Ron" Clark, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)". Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  11. ^ Urbano, Chris (3 November 2006). "Tankers in Ramadi". DVIDS. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. ^ Urbano, Chris (8 November 2006). "Band of Brothers". DVIDS. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  13. ^ ""If We Didn't Work Together, We'd Perish": Relationships Built At The Speed Of Trust". The West Point Center for Oral History. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  14. ^ Martinez, Megan L. (5 October 2018). "Invite to the 25th Infantry Division Association to Tropic Lightning Week Dec. 17-21, 2018". DVIDS. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  15. ^ Ogburn, Jackie (31 July 2020). "Major General Ron Clark Talks about Race, Diversity and Inclusion in the U.S. Army". Duke University. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the United States Army Pacific
2017-2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General of the 25th Infantry Division
2018–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
2019–2021
Preceded by Commanding General of the United States Army Central
2021–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from ""