Clarke Takes Over SOCOM

March 29, 2019 | By Brian W. Everstine


Army Gen. Richard Clarke Jr., shown here in an August 2017 command portrait taken at the Pentagon, assumed command of US Special Operations Command on Friday. Army photo by Monica King.

Army Gen. Richard Clarke Jr. took over command of US Special Operations Command during a ceremony in Florida on Friday.

Clarke, who previously served as the director for strategic plans and policy for the Joint Staff, received his fourth star in the promotion and is taking over for Army Gen. Raymond Thomas.

Thomas has been commander of SOCOM since 2016 and is retiring.

Clarke previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, was the commandant at the US Military Academy at West Point, and had previously served as the director of operations for Joint Special Operations Command.

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