Colonel Ralph L. (Bo) Clayton III is the Commander, 733d Mission Support Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. He leads 615 personnel in two squadrons and one division who provide wartime and peacetime mission support and quality of life for the 633d Air Base Wing, Headquarters United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, four United States Army brigades, Headquarters Joint Task Force Civil Support, and numerous other associate units and mission partners. Colonel Clayton provides deployment operations, construction, security, facility maintenance, supply and transportation for a base community totaling over 7,780 acres and hosting 23,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve, Department of Defense civilians, and retired personnel.
Colonel Clayton assumed his duties on June 28, 2016. He entered active duty in the US Army Field Artillery Corps in 1989. In 1999 he entered Special Operations as a Psychological Operations officer and has since supported or deployed in support of every major contingency operation.
CIVILIAN EDUCATION
1988 - Bachelor of Science, Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
2002 - Master of Science, Administration, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
MILITARY EDUCATION
1989 - Field Artillery Officer Basic Course
1992 - Field Artillery Officer Advance Course
1993 - Ranger School
1994 - Jumpmaster Course
1994 - Joint Firepower/Control Course
1996 - Combined Arms Services and Staff School
1999 - Special Warfare School Psychological Officers Course
1999 - Civil Affairs Course
1999 - Regional Studies Course
2003 - U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
2004 - Joint Forces Staff College - Joint Professional Military Education II
2005 - Joint Information Operations Planners' Course
2013 - Senior Service College Fellowship - University of North Carolina and Duke University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1989 - 1990, Company Fire Support Officer, Alpha Company, 3-187th Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, KY
2. 1990 - 1991, Reconnaissance and Survey Officer, Headquarters and Service Battery, 3-20th Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Campbell, KY
2. 1991 - 1991, Battery Executive Officer, Alpha Battery, 3-320th Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Campbell, KY
3. 1991 - 1992, Battalion Motor Officer, Headquarters and Service Battery, 3-320th Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Campbell, KY
4. 1993 - 1994, Squadron Fire Support Officer, 1-17th Cavalry Regiment, 82 Airborne Division Artillery, Fort Bragg, NC
5. 1994 - 1996, Battalion Fire Direction Officer, Headquarters and Service Battery, 1-319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Bragg, NC
6. 1996 - 1997, Battalion S4, Headquarters and Service Battery, 1-319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Bragg, NC
7. 1997 - 1999, Battery Commander, Bravo Battery (105MM), 1-319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Bragg, NC
8. 1999 - 1999, Division Artillery Assistant S3, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 82d Airborne Division Artillery, Fort Bragg, NC
9. 2000 - 2001, Detachment Commander, Alpha Company, 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
10. 2001 - 2001, Company Commander, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
11. 2001 - 2002, Detachment Commander, Alpha Company, 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
12. 2002 - 2003, Company Commander, Alpha Company, 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
13. 2003 - 2004, Battalion S3, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
14. 2004 - 2008, Information Operations Supervisor, United States Southern Command, Miami, FL
15. 2008 - 2009, Chief Information Operations Task Force-Iraq, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
16. 2009 - 2010, Battalion Commander, 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
17. 2010 - 2011, Battalion Commander (Forward Afghanistan), 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
18. 2011 - 2012, Group Deputy Commander, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
19. 2012 - 2013, U.S. Army War College; National Security Fellow - University of North Carolina and Duke University
20. 2013 - 2015, Chief, Special Operations Command, Military Information Support Operations Branch, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL
21. 2015 - 2016, Chief, J39 Information Operations, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL
22. 2016 - Present, Commander, 733d Mission Support Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze Star with two oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal
South West Asia Service Medal with bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal
Saudi/Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)
Ranger Tab
Master Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 25, 1988
First Lieutenant February 7, 1991
Captain June 1, 1993
Major October 1, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel October 2, 2007
Colonel March 1, 2013
(Current as of July 2016)