Ronald P. Clark

Ronald P. Clark
Ronald P. Clark
Nickname(s)	Ron; Lucky 6
Born	15 August 1966 (age 58); Montana, U.S.
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1988–present
Rank	General
Commands	United States Army Pacific; United States Army Central; 25th Infantry Division; 192d Infantry Brigade; 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment;
Battles / wars	Gulf War; Iraq War; Operation Inherent Resolve;
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal (2); Defense Superior Service Medal (2); Legion of Merit (4);

Ronald Patrick "Ron" Clark^[2] (born 15 August 1966)^[3] is a United States Army general who has served as the commanding general of United States Army Pacific since November 8, 2024.^[4] He most recently served as the senior military assistant to the secretary of defense from 2022 to 2024. He previously commanded United States Army Central from 2021 to 2022.^[5] He also served as Chief of Staff, United States Indo-Pacific Command, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, and before that, as Chief of Staff, United States Army Pacific.^[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 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]

In July 2024, Clark was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as the commanding general of United States Army Pacific.^[10]^[11] His nomination was placed on hold by Senator Tommy Tuberville, but it was lifted after a few weeks.^[12]^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15]

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.^[16]

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.^[17]

Clark appeared in a video invitation to the 25th Infantry Division Association to Tropic Lightning Week on 5 October 2018.^[18]

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.^[19]

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge

Ranger tab

Senior Parachutist Badge

Air Assault Badge

Army Staff Identification Badge

82nd Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge

506th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

4 Overseas Service Bars

Army Distinguished Service Medal

Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster

Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clusters

Bronze Star Medal

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster

Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Valorous Unit Award

Navy Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Superior Unit Award

National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

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

Army Service Ribbon

Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Personal life

Clark is married and has two adult children.

References

^ "USARCENT Leaders". U.S. Army Central. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
^ "Ronald Patrick Clark". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ 1
^ "Lieutenant General Ronald P. Clark (USA)". General Officer Management Office. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
^ Horton, Keon (2021-08-04). "USARCENT Welcomes New Commanding General". DVIDS.
^ "Chief of Staff, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ "Ceremony welcomes incoming chief of staff to USARPAC". U.S. Army. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
^ Morin, Monte (30 August 2006). "Hunting insurgents a frustrating lesson in detective work". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
^ Cole, William (22 December 2017). "Pentagon names new Schofield commander". Star Advertiser. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
^ "PN1961 — Lt. Gen. Ronald P. Clark — Army, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
^ "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
^ "Tuberville puts hold on military promotion". CNN news. 2024-09-10.
^ Lamothe, Dan (September 25, 2024). "Tuberville ends hold on promotion of Austin aide after private meeting". The Washington Post.
^ "Maj. Gen. Ronald P. "Ron" Clark, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)". Retrieved 20 February 2019.
^ Urbano, Chris (3 November 2006). "Tankers in Ramadi". DVIDS. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
^ Urbano, Chris (8 November 2006). "Band of Brothers". DVIDS. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
^ ""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.
^ 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.
^ 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 Mark J. O'Neil	Chief of Staff of United States Army Pacific 2017-2018	Succeeded by Peter B. Andrysiak
Preceded by Christopher G. Cavoli	Commanding General of the 25th Infantry Division 2018–2019	Succeeded by James Jarrard
Preceded by Michael Minihan	Chief of Staff of the United States Indo-Pacific Command 2019–2021	Succeeded by James Jarrard
Preceded by Terry R. Ferrell	Commanding General of United States Army Central 2021–2022	Succeeded by Patrick D. Frank
Preceded by Randy George	Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense 2022–2024	Succeeded by Jennifer Short
Preceded by Charles A. Flynn	Commanding General of United States Army Pacific 2024–present	Incumbent

[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] 1

[4] "Lieutenant General Ronald P. Clark (USA)". General Officer Management Office. Retrieved 2024-11-08.

[5] Horton, Keon (2021-08-04). "USARCENT Welcomes New Commanding General". DVIDS.

[6] "Chief of Staff, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

[7] "Ceremony welcomes incoming chief of staff to USARPAC". U.S. Army. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2019.

[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] "PN1961 — Lt. Gen. Ronald P. Clark — Army, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-12.

[11] "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-12.

[12] "Tuberville puts hold on military promotion". CNN news. 2024-09-10.

[Washington_Post_2024-09-25-13] Lamothe, Dan (September 25, 2024). "Tuberville ends hold on promotion of Austin aide after private meeting". The Washington Post.

[14] "Maj. Gen. Ronald P. "Ron" Clark, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)". Retrieved 20 February 2019.

[15] Urbano, Chris (3 November 2006). "Tankers in Ramadi". DVIDS. Retrieved 19 May 2021.

[16] Urbano, Chris (8 November 2006). "Band of Brothers". DVIDS. Retrieved 19 May 2021.

[17] ""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.

[18] 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.

[19] 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.

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