Patrick Clare, a Clifton Park resident, and Sean Flynn, an Albany resident, are promoted to Colonel in the New York Army National Guard

Combat veterans are recognized by Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, during October 2 ceremony

Latham, NY (10/03/2019) — Two Capital Region residents, Patrick Clare of Clifton Park and Sean Flynn, an Albany resident, were promoted to colonel in the New York Army National Guard by Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham on October 2, 2019.

Also promoted during the ceremony was Col. Michael Charnley, a Monroe County resident, who commands the Latham-based 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

Promoting three officers to the rank of colonel at the same time is "a rare opportunity" Shields said.

Of the more than 10,000 men and women in the New York Army National Guard only 32 have the rank of colonel. The three officers promoted on October 2 "are entering a very select group of senior leaders," Shields said."It is just a tremendous accomplishment," he added.

Each of these three men have distinguished themselves in deployments to combat zones and in domestic response missions here in New York, Shield's said.

Clare, who serves as the Deputy Director of the United States Property and Finance Office at National Guard headquarters, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion 108th Infantry as a truck driver in 1994.

He earned his commission through the New York Army National Guard Officer Candidate School program in 2000, and was commissioned as a logistics officer.

Clare is slated to deploy to Kuwait with the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division as the division logistics officer in 2020.

Clare has served in leadership positions at the company, battalion and division level, and in a number of staff assignments.

He deployed to Iraq in 2004/2005 as the transportation officer for the 42nd Infantry Division in Tikrit.

In 2011 in deployed to Kuwait as brigade logistics officer for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Clare has served as the commander of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion and as the logistics officer for the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy.

Clare is a full-time employee of the New York National Guard.

Clare holds a bachelor's of science from Nyack College and is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College.

His awards include the Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

He and his wife Nicole have a son, Ryan, and a daughter, Michaela.

Flynn, who serves as the Chief of Staff of the 42nd Infantry Division, which is headquartered in Troy, started his military career as an Air Force Officer. He was commissioned through Air Force ROTC and served as an Air Force officer from 1994 to 1997.

He joined the New York National Guard in 1997 and has served in a number of positions including company commander, commander of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, and executive officer of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He has served as a full-time National Guard officer since 2001.

Flynn deployed to Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry in 2004-2005 and to Kuwait in 2012.

Flynn's awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, and the NATO Medal.

Flynn is the author of The Fighting 69th: From Ground Zero to Baghdad.

He and his wife Lori have two children: Hudson and Lucia.

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