ARLINGTON, Va. - Lt. Gen. Stanley E. "Sid" Clarke III, commander of the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-1st Air Force, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be the next director of the Air National Guard.
If confirmed by the Senate, Clarke will replace Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt III, who is retiring in January. Wyatt has led the Air National Guard since February 2009.
Wyatt said Clarke, if confirmed, is the right person at the right time.
"Sid is an outstanding leader," he said. "He has an opportunity to lead the best Air National Guard in our nation's history; a force that is proven in combat and domestic crises. His wealth of command and staff positions will help shape and guide the Air Guard as we forge ahead to the future."
As Air Guard Director, Clarke will be responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 106,000 Air Guard members in more than 88 flying wings and 200 geographically separated units throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
Clarke is no stranger to key leadership positions. At 1st Air Force, he commanded four direct reporting units, 10 aligned Air National Guard units, and a large number of active air defense alert sites – including aircraft, air defense artillery, and up to 15,000 active duty, National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian personnel. As the Joint Force Air Component Commander for North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Clarke developed contingency plans and conducted full-spectrum U.S. Air Force air and space operations in the continental United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as over the maritime approaches to the U.S.
Clarke is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours, including more than 100 in combat, in the T-38, C-26, A-10 and F-16. He has served as the deputy drector of the Air National Guard and as the assistant adjutant general for air for the Alabama Air National Guard.
Prior to his NORAD assignment, Clarke served the senior defense official and defense attaché in Turkey. The general was commissioned in 1981 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Georgia. He has served in various operational and staff assignments including duty as an A-10 and F-16 instructor pilot. He also has commanded a squadron, fighter wing and air expeditionary wing.