Wednesday, December 12, 2012

President Nominates Clarke as Next Air National Guard Chief


National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 12, 2012 – Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley E. “Sid” Clarke III has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be the next director of the Air National Guard.

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Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley E. “Sid” Clarke III has been nominated by President Barack Obama to become the next director of the Air National Guard. Courtesy photo
  

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Clarke is currently serving as commander, First Air Force (Air Force North), and commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
 
If confirmed by the Senate, Clarke will replace Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt III, who is retiring in January. Wyatt has led the Air National Guard since February 2009.

Wyatt said Clarke, if confirmed, is the right person at the right time.

"Sid is an outstanding leader," Wyatt said. "He has an opportunity to lead the best Air National Guard in our nation's history; a force that is proven in combat and domestic crises. His wealth of [experience in] command and staff positions will help shape and guide the Air Guard as we forge ahead to the future."

If confirmed, Clarke will be responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 106,000 Air Guard members in more than 88 flying wings and 200 geographically separated units throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

At 1st Air Force, Clarke commands four direct reporting units, 10 aligned Air National Guard units, and a large number of active air defense alert sites -- including aircraft, air defense artillery, and up to 15,000 active duty, National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian personnel.

As the Joint Force Air Component Commander for North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Clarke developed contingency plans and conducted full-spectrum U.S. Air Force air and space operations in the continental United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as over the maritime approaches to the United States.

Clarke is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours, including more than 100 in combat, in the T-38, C-26, A-10 and F-16 aircraft. He has served as the deputy director of the Air National Guard and as the assistant adjutant general for air for the Alabama Air National Guard.

Before his NORAD assignment, Clarke served the senior defense official and defense attaché in Turkey. Clarke was commissioned in 1981 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Georgia. He has served in various operational and staff assignments including duty as an A-10 and F-16 instructor pilot. He also has commanded a squadron, fighter wing and air expeditionary wing.

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