Fort Drum officially welcomes Col. Richard D. Clarke

FORT DRUM — The Fort Drum community will have three one-star generals on post as soon as Col. Richard D. Clarke officially receives his promotion to brigadier general.

Col. Clarke officially was welcomed to Fort Drum during a celebration Tuesday at Magrath Sports Complex. He will assume duty as the deputy commanding general of operations and officially will be promoted in several weeks.

Before arriving on post in September, Col. Clarke served as the director of operations at Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C.

“I have asked to come here multiple times,” Col. Clarke said during the ceremony. “I tried as a major, I tried as a lieutenant colonel, I asked for it as a colonel and just never got it right. But really, I’m happy with my timing to be here. I did not see an assignment here, ever, but there is no place I would rather serve. I can assure you from my position that I will uphold the tremendous reputation of this division in every capacity.”

Col. Clarke comes to Fort Drum with more than 20 years’ experience with the Army. He was commissioned in the infantry from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. He began his career as a rifle platoon leader with the 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry, 3rd Armored Division.

He went on to lead “critical and important” battalions, including becoming the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division in 2002. Two years later, he took command of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and then assumed command of the entire 75th Ranger Regiment.

Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley said strong, adaptable leaders are needed in the Army and he is confident Col. Clarke will serve Fort Drum to the best of his ability.

“This is no small feat,” Gen. Milley said. “It requires hard leaders, it requires leaders that know the fundamentals of ground combat operations of light infantry and it requires leaders who face head on the adversity and the complexity of today’s battlefield whether it’s Afghanistan or anywhere else.”

“There is no doubt in my mind, after three weeks, that we have those types of leaders in every echelon in this formation. The man we welcome today ... embodies every one of those qualities, bar none. This is his first assignment to this division, but he embodies the very essence of what it means to be light infantry,” Gen. Milley said.

Col. Clarke received a master’s degree in security and strategic studies from the National War College, Washington, D.C., and has received numerous military awards and medals. He is married to Suzanne Clarke and has two children, Madeleine and Will.

“Gen. Milley, thanks; I am excited to help you in this command serve this division,” Col. Clarke said. “The future is uncertain and I am looking forward to writing that next chapter. And I can tell you I will do whatever possible for the Mountain Division soldiers.”

“Suzy and I are absolutely honored to be here; there is no better place to serve. I assure you that I will give 110 percent each and every day to everyone here. I know each of you will do the same as we face the challenges of our next climb to glory,” Col. Clarke said.