COLONEL GERALD R. CLARK
Colonel Gerald Clark is the Deputy Commander, of the 179th Cyberspace Wing located at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, Mansfield, Ohio. He ensures the Wing's Airmen and it's assets are ready to deploy in support of our local communities, state and nation for national defense, homeland security, humanitarian and disaster relief missions they serve. The 179th is the first Cyberspace Wing in the Air National Guard.
Colonel Clark enlisted in the Air National Guard in December 1985. He spent 21 years enlisted in the fuels flight as a drill status guardsman. In 2007, he received his commission through the Academy of Military Science, and completed his Logistics Readiness Officer training at Lackland AFB, Texas in May 2008. Colonel Clark returned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker IAP as the Logistics Readiness Squadron Operations Officer.
Since 2008, as a dual status military technician, Colonel Clark served in various logistics positions in the 121st Air Refueling Wing to include Operations Officer, Installation Deployment Officer, Distribution Flight Commander, and Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander. He deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for six months, and served in a dual-hatted role as Installation Deployment Officer and Distribution Flight Commander. In 2017, he was selected as the Maintenance Squadron Commander, and completed the Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course in November at Sheppard AFB, Texas. In August 2021, he became the 121st Deputy Maintenance Group Commander, and in January of 2022 was selected to the Deputy Maintenance Group Commander at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. In November of 2022, after the 179th Airlift Wing was awarded conversion, he was selected as the Deputy Commander of the newly formed 179th Cyberspace Operations Group, responsible for organizing, training and equipping 422 Airmen for the Cyber-Enabled Air Superiority mission. In December 2024, Colonel Clark assumed the role of the Deputy Wing Commander to further the advancement the new mission of the 179th Cyberspace Wing.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, Human Nutrition, The Ohio State University, Columbus
1994 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2005 USAF Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, correspondence
2011 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2017 Masters of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2022 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1.December 1985-March 2004, Fuels Specialist, 121st Resource Management Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
2.February 2004-April 2007, Fuels Flight NCOIC, 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
3.May 2008-February 2009, Air Transportation OIC, 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
4.May 2008-February 2009, Operations Officer, 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
5.February 2009-January 2013, Installation Deployment Officer, 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron, RickenbackerANGB, Ohio
6.January 2013-June 2015, Distribution Flight Commander, 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB,Ohio
7.July 2014-January 2015, Distribution Flight Commander, 380 Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, AbuDhabi, UAE
8.June 2015-May 2017, Squadron Commander, 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
9.May 2017-August 2021, Squadron Commander, 121st Maintenance Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
10.August 2021-January 2022, Deputy Maintenance Group Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, RickenbackerANGB, Ohio
11.January 2022- October 2023, Deputy Maintenance Group Commander, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield ANGB,Ohio
12.October 2023- December 2024, Deputy Cyber Operations Group Commander, 179th Cyberspace Wing,Mansfield ANGB, Ohio
13.December 2024- Present, Deputy Wing Commander, 179th Cyberspace Wing.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Achievement Medal Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Reserves Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Services Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Longevity Service with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 3 ‘M’ Devices
Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with Bronze Star
Air Force Training Ribbon with Oak Leaf Cluster NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Staff Sergeant Feb. 1, 1990
Technical Sergeant Oct. 1, 1999
Master Sergeant Apr. 1, 2004
Second Lieutenant Feb. 16, 2007
First Lieutenant Feb. 16, 2009
Captain Feb. 16, 2011
Major Feb. 16, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel May 15, 2019
Colonel Sept. 13, 2023
(Current as of December 2024)