Special to the News Leader

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii – Ronald P. Clark, a 1984 graduate of Leesville High School, was promoted to four-star general and promptly took command of United States Army Pacific on Nov. 8. With it’s more than 106,000 soldiers and civilians, USARPAC is the Army  Component to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the military’s largest combatant command with a security responsibility of over half the globe.

Clark comes to Fort Shafter after serving as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense for the last two years. He succeeds Gen. Charles A. Flynn, who later in the ceremony confirmed his retirement after 39 years of service.

Clark’s presence in the Pacific doesn’t stand green. He served as the Army Pacific Chief of Staff, Fort Shafter, from 2017-2018; the 25th Infantry Division Commanding General, Schofield Barracks, from 2018-2019; and the United States Indo-Pacific Command Chief of Staff, Camp H. M. Smith, from 2019-2021.

Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, presided over the ceremony and reflected on the significance of this command.

“Ron, after your trials in Washington, D.C., welcome back to the operational world as you’re so well aware, with so much experience here in the Indo Pacific, your background is tailor made for this duty.”

Clark expressed, “It is the most important day of my 36-plus years of service today to be here on this field with you, and it is the privilege of my professional life to serve in USARPAC headquarters as the commander. I want to continue to build upon Charlie and Kathleen’s strong relationships with the relationships that we’ve enjoyed. We are fortunate to have you as extraordinary partners. USARPAC  remains committed to strengthening our partnerships as we build our collective readiness and  relationships built on a bedrock of mutual respect and trust.”

Following his graduation from Leesville High School, Clark earned a nomination to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1988 and was commissioned a second  lieutenant in the infantry.

Clark went on to earn a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the US Army Command and General Staff College. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College Fellowship at Duke

U.S. Army Pacific’s area of operations covers half the globe and consists of 36 nations and six of the world’s 10 largest armies. America’s Theater Army in the Pacific postures and prepares the force for unified land operations, responds to threats, sustains and protects the force, and builds military relationships that develop partner defense capacity contributing to a stable  and secure region.

General Clark is married with two adult children.

In addition to Clark graduating from Leesville High, the general calls the Leesville area his hometown even though he was born into an Army family that moved from base to base in his youth.