NY Army National Guard Lt. Col. Chard Clark, a Chester resident, takes command of National Guard training site

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, New York -- (09/06/2024) — New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Chad Clark, a Chester resident, will assume command of the Camp Smith Training Site Garrison during a Sunday, Sept. 8 ceremony.

He replaced Lt. Col. Michael Rodriguez who is being promoted to colonel and moving onto a position as Chief Facility Management Officer for the New York National Guard.

The Camp Smith Garrison Command overseas operations at the 1,585-acre New York National Guard training facility which dates to 1882.

Clark, a native of Berryvillle in Sullivan County, joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in 2002. In 2004 he transferred to the New York Army National Guard and earned his commission as an officer through Officer Candidate School.

Clark is qualified as both an engineer and a logistics officer.

His pervious assignment was as the chief of maneuver for the 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment, based in New York. The detachment is made up of officer and senior noncommissioned officers whose role is to embed with coalition military partners and help them work with U.S. Army senior headquarters.

Clark's other assignments include two commands and serving as staff officers for the 42nd Infantry Division, the 369th Sustainment Brigade and the 204th Engineer Battalion.

He deployed to Kuwait with the 42nd Infantry Division headquarters in 2016 and responded in state duty status to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Irene in 2011.

He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and holds a bachelor's in business management from Ithaca College.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

He is employed full time as a design and project manager for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs.

He and his wife Beth have three children: Stephanie, Justin and James.

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