FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Senior leaders, Soldiers, civilians and Family Members gathered Nov. 22 at Magrath Gym to welcome Col. (P) Richard D. Clarke as he assumed duty as 10th Mountain Division (LI) deputy commanding general of operations.
Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, officially welcomed Clarke to his new position.
"Today really is a great day for this division," Milley said. "It's a time for us to give a warm welcome to the Clarkes and bring them into the warmest place on the face of the earth, even though the temperatures are (dropping) and this is your first winter (here)."
The division headquarters recently returned from a "decisive campaign" in Regional Command-South in Afghanistan, and the unit is resetting to prepare for its next challenge, Milley said.
"We don't necessarily know what lies ahead," he explained. "We're in a period of transition, and continuity is really found in the quality of leaders that you see arranged before you today with the brigade commanders, battalion commanders and all the company (commanders) and first sergeants."
Regardless of rank or leadership position -- from corporal all the way up to general -- leaders have an obligation to accomplish two things: completing tactical missions they are given and taking care of Soldiers and their Families, Milley added.
Soldiers of 10th Mountain Division (LI) have demonstrated their capabilities as a light infantry division throughout history, he continued.
"What does it mean to be a light infantry leader? It means that my unit is ready to deploy, is … trained and ready to deploy and engage in ground operations globally," he said. "This is no small feat -- it's hard to do -- and we've demonstrated it over and over again."
Milley added that Clarke embodies every quality of a good leader.
"I have no doubt that Rich Clarke will serve to strengthen and perpetuate the proud heritage that has been built up in this division over 20 years," he said. "He is a mountain leader from the core. This is his first assignment to this division, but he embodies the very essence of what it means to be in the light infantry."
"Rich, I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you wearing our patch for the first time," Milley continued. "I've known Rich for quite a while, and I've seen him in combat. He is a tremendously experienced combat leader. He has 13 years of command, and most of that command time has been in combat. There is no more experienced colonel promotable in combat in the Army than Col. (P) Rich Clarke. And we should all have tremendous confidence in his leadership."
Clarke, who recently served as director of operations for the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., said the ceremony marked a special day for him and his Family.
"We have received a wonderfully warm welcome from a post renowned for snow and cold weather," Clark said. "When we learned that we were coming to Fort Drum, numerous former leaders came out to highlight that this post was truly the Army's best-kept secret. We couldn't agree more."
"The community has truly embraced us and has really impressed us as being one of the most supportive in the Army," he continued.
While this is Clarke's first assignment in the North Country, he said he's been serving alongside former 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers during his 20-year career. He added that he has tried to serve at Fort Drum several times, and he is happy to finally have the opportunity.
"There is no place I would rather serve, and (I) can assure you, I will give my utmost to uphold the tremendous reputation of this division," he said, adding that he is excited to face his new assignment and promised to give 110 percent to Soldiers and leaders here. "The 10th Mountain Division (LI) will continue to represent and defend America whenever and where we might be called to serve. The mountain Soldiers will do so with honor."
Clark also paused to reflect on the Thanksgiving holiday.
"As Thanksgiving is upon us, let us not only give thanks for the blessings we have, but let us also remember those who are deployed in harm's way, and those who are no longer with us," he said. "Know as you sit down for dinner, there is a 10th Mountain Division Soldier conducting a combat operation defending our freedoms."
Clarke, who was raised in an Army Family, was born in Stutt-gart, Germany. He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point before receiving his commission as an infantry officer.
His previous assignments include Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg and Vicenza, Italy. His deployments include Operation Desert Storm, Operation Joint Guardian, three deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and four deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Clarke is a graduate of the Infantry Officers Basic and Advanced Course, and the Army Command and General Staff College. He also earned a master's in security and strategic studies from the National War College and a Master of Business Administration from Benedictine College.
His awards and decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Air Medal; Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Army Achievement Medal with six oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Afghanistan Service Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge with Star; Expert Infantryman Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; and Ranger Tab.
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