Brig. Gen. Shaw Clouthier, a Coxsackie resident and former commander of 109th Airlift Wing retires after 38 years
New York Air National Guard officer served with the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in a variety of positions.
Latham, NY (01/13/2020) — Brig. Gen. Shawn Clouthier, a former commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, ended his military career after 38 years of service on Sunday, January 12, during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.
Clouthier served as Chief of Staff of the 5,800- person New York Air National guard after relinquishing command of the 109th Airlift Wing in 2017. He also served as Assistant Adjutant General of the New York Air National Guard.
He served as commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, which flies the unique ski-equipped LC-130 transport from Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, NY, from April 2012 until October of 2017.
In his comments, he credited his success in the military to the mend and women of the New York Air National guard and their hard work and mission dedication.
He also thanked his wife Janice and his daughters Tori and Alexa for their support during his long military career.
"I will never forget the men and women of the New York National Guard and I am proud to have been a leader is this world class organization," he said.
Clouthier joined the New York Air National Guard in 1982 after earning his commission through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard base. That same year, Clouthier attended Undergraduate Navigator Training and was assigned to the 139th Tactical Airlift Squadron of the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base.
In 1983, Clouthier became a LC-130 Navigator. He also served as a weapons and tactics officer, an instructor navigator, an evaluator navigator and chief of current operations for the 109th Operations Support Flight during his career.
He served as the deputy commander, and then the commander of the 109th Maintenance Group and as the commander of the 109th Operations Group before taking command of the 109th Airlift Wing in 2012.
Clouthier is a command navigator with over 7,000 flying hours in various models of the C-130 and the LC-130.
He holds an Associate of Applied Science from Herkimer County Community College and a Bachelor of General Studies from the State University of New York Regents College.
He is a graduate of the Air War College, the National Security Management Course and the Joint Task Force Commander Course.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Antarctica Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Air Force Overseas Ribbon.
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New York Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Shawn Clouthier receives an award from his wife Janice during his retirement ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y. Clouthier, a Coxsackie resident, served in the Air National Guard for 38 years. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Master Sgt. William Gizara)
New York Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Shawn Clouthier receives a certificate from Major General Timothy LaBarge( left) the commander of the New York Air National Guard, during his retirement ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y. Clouthier, a Coxsackie resident, served in the Air National Guard for 38 years. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Master Sgt. William Gizara)
New York Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Shawn Clouthier (right) and Major General Timothy LaBarge, the commander of the New York Air National Guard, stand at attention during his retirement ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y. Clouthier, a Coxsackie resident, served in the Air National Guard for 38 years. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Master Sgt. William Gizara)
New York National Guard
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