Laconia native becomes adjutant general for state's national guard

A Lake City native will be front and center at a change of command ceremony on Sunday in Concord, becoming the state's 24th Adjutant General and the first non-Army trained commander to lead the N.H. National Guard since the office was established in 1777.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Kenneth R. Clark appointment to the position was confirmed by the Executive Council on December 1. He replaces Maj. Gen. John E. Blair of Barnstead, who retired after serving as the state's highest ranking citizen soldier for ten years.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the air services hanger at Concord Airport. (Accessed from Regional Way, off Airport Rd.)

Clark, who currently resides in Stratham, was born in Laconia. He graduated from Laconia High School in 1964. In 1968, he received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from University of New Hampshire.

In his new position, Clark is responsible for overseeing the training, safety and welfare of 2,700 soldier and airmen from New Hampshire, 900 of which are currently serving in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also is responsible for federal and state properties assigned to the N.H. National Guard.

"I am looking forward to the challenges of supporting our deployed forces and their families," Clark said earlier this week.

Governor Benson appointed Clark to the position on November 10, expressing confidence in his abilities.

"I have no doubt he will bring creativity and ingenuity to the position," Benson said. "We are in trying and unique times in our history. Thousands of our citizen soldiers are deployed overseas representing New Hampshire and the nation in the War on Terror. General Clark's service as their leader will only strengthen the organization and those within it."

Clark is currently assigned to the Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander. He was also former commander of the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington. He is an Air Force pilot with more than 30 years of service, all with the N.H. National guard.

Clark is married to the former Deborah J. Farr of Arlington, Va., who retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve Nursing Corps in 1995.

They have a son, Brian and daughter, Jodi.

Clark has two brothers (Dave and Chuck) and a sister (Carolyn Sanborn) who still live in the Lakes Region. Chuck Clark is a State Representative from Gilford.