Worcester resident Richard Cipro takes command of New York National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division

Brig. Gen. Richard Cipro leads division with 15,000 Soldiers spread across northeastern states

Latham, NY (10/20/2026) — LATHAM, New York -Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Richard P. Cipro, a Worcester, Massachusetts resident and a veteran of the war in Iraq, took command of the National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, New York on October 17.

The 42nd Infantry Division is headquartered in Troy, New York but has elements totaling about 15,000 Soldiers located across the northeast. This includes the Massachusetts Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 182 Infantry which traces its history back to 1636.

Cipro has served as a member of the Army National Guard since 1991, when he enlisted as member of the Massachusetts Army Guard's 972 Military Police Company.

He is now a member of the New York National Guard since the 42nd Infantry Division headquarters is based in New York. There are 6,000 42nd Division Soldiers in New York.

Cipro is also serving as the Deputy Commanding General-National Guard for the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force- Africa, which is headquartered in Vincenza, Italy.

Cipro replaces Major General Jack James, who took command of the division in 2024.

James led the division during a deployment to the Middle East in 2025. The division headquarters commanded Task Force Spartan, the Army's 10,000 Soldier force in the region.

When Operation Epic Fury launched the division headquarters transition to a warfighting role.

James will now serve as the deputy commanding general of the Army Transformation and Training Command.

Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, praised Cipro as an outstanding leader during the change of command ceremony.

"Thank you for joining the division, we appreciate it and know you're going to lead the division to even better heights as we move forward," Shields said.

In his remarks, Cipro said it was a "tremendous honor" to take command of the 42nd Infantry Division.

To the Soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division, it is the honor of my career to lead you, we will uphold this division's proud legacy and meet the challenges ahead with confidence and purpose," Cipro said.

The 42nd Infantry Division traces its history back to World War I and 1917 when it was organized out of National Guard units from 26 states so it could deploy quickly to France. The division's chief of staff and organizer, then-Colonel Douglas MacArthur said the division reached across the country "like a rainbow."

The name stuck and the division has been "the Rainbow Division" ever since.

In World War II the division liberated the Dachau concentration camp, and in September 2001 division units responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. In 2004, the 42nd Infantry Division was the first National Guard division to deploy to Iraq. This was the first mobilization of National Guard division in 50 years.

The division headquarters also deployed to the Middle East in 2020.

Cipro earned his commission in 1999 through the Massachusetts Army National Guard's regional training institute. Since then, he has held command and staff positions ranging from platoon leader to brigade commander to assistant adjutant general and land component commander for the Massachusetts National Guard.

He deployed to Pakistan in support of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 2002 and served in Taji, Iraq in 2009 to 2010. He was also mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle, a homeland security mission following the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Cipro is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, the Joint Task Force Commanders Course, The Naval War College, and the Dual Status Commanders Course. He is also a graduate of the Executive Education Seminar at the Harvard Kennedy School.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Worcester State University, a Master of Arts in Criminal Just from Anna Maria College.

Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and a certificate in Crisis Leadership from the Executive Education Seminar at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals, Armed Forces Service Medal, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

In civilian life, Cipro was a member of the Worcester Massachusetts Police Department for over 32 years, ultimately reaching the rank of Sergeant.

Cipro and his wife Colleen have four children, Stephan, Michalla, Kayce, and Jack.

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