Colonel Robert “Bob” Clay is the Vice Commander of Space Base Delta 2 at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. He oversees a 1,020-member team providing Base Operating Support to more than 800 military, Department of Defense civilians and contractor personnel serving at 14 operating locations world-wide, executing critical United States Space Force Missile Warning and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions. In addition, the installation hosts 6 wings (or equivalents) and 109 tenant organizations as well as supporting over 14,000 base personnel and 98,000 retirees.
Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Clay served as Chief, Financial Analysis Division, Resource Management and Special Programs Directorate, HQ Space Operations Command. In this role, he was responsible for the execution of the $14B space portfolio, across five wings, the Major Command, Center and Numbered Air Force. Colonel Clay has an extensive financial management background that includes budget and finance experience at the Air Staff, MAJCOM, and Wing levels. He’s also twice served as a Squadron Commander and led financial operations while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Colonel Clay is a native of Denison, Texas. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1990 and served 10 years as a neurodiagnostic technologist. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University and was commissioned through Officer Training School in 2000. He and his wife Julie have one son, Cody.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, Wayland Baptist University
2000 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2001 Financial Management Basic Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas (Distinguished Graduate)
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama (Outstanding Contributor)
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2008 Financial Management Squadron Officer’s Course, Keesler AFB, Mississippi (Distinguished Graduate)
2008 Master’s in Business Administration, American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2011 Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2012 Master’s in Military Operational Art, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2015 Department of Defense Financial Management Certificate – Level III
2017 Air War College, Correspondence
2020 Master’s in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Nov 2000 – Mar 2003, Deputy Financial Services Officer, Brooks City-Base, Texas
2. Mar 2003 – Sep 2004, Flight Commander, Financial Services, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. Oct 2004 – Jul 2006, Flight Commander, Budget Operations, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. Jul 2006 – Jan 2009, Chief, Budget Plans and Programs, HQ Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
5. Jan 2009 – Feb 2010, Comptroller Advisor, Department of Border Enforcement National HQ Transition Team, United States Forces – Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
6. Feb 2010 – Jan 2011, Chief, Financial Operations, HQ Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
7. Jan 2011 – Aug 2011, Executive Officer, HQ Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
8. Aug 2011 – Jun 2012, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
9. Jun 2012 – Jul 2014, Commander, 48th Comptroller Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, UK
10. Sep 2014 – Jul 2016, Commander, 27th Special Operations Comptroller Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
11. Jul 2016 – Jul 2018, Director, DEAMS Integration, HQ Air Force, SAF/FMF, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
12. Jul 2018 – Jul 2019, Chief, Financial Analysis Division, HQ Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida
13. Aug 2019 – May 2020, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
14. Jun 2020 – Jun 2022, Chief, Financial Analysis Division, HQ Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado
15. Jun 2022 – Present, Vice Commander, Space Base Delta 2, Buckley SFB, Colorado
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leave clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 devices
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 device
NATO Medal
HQ Air Combat Command Company Grade Officer of the Year, 2007
Outstanding Contribution to Financial Management and Comptroller (MAJCOM Level), 2007
USAFE Comptroller Organization of the Year, 2013
AFSOC Comptroller Organization of the Year, 2015 & 2016
AFSOC Comptroller of the Year, 2015
USSOCOM Comptroller of the Year, 2015
OUSD(C) Contributions in Financial Management in a Contingency Operation, 2017
SAF/FM Special Acts and Services Award, 2020 & 2021
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant
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7 Jul 2000
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First Lieutenant
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7 Jul 2002
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Captain
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7 Jul 2004
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Major
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1 Jun 2010
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Lieutenant Colonel 1 Oct 2015
Colonel 1 Sep 2021
(Current as of June 2022)