Colonel Robert C. Clay

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

7 Jul 2000

First Lieutenant

7 Jul 2002

Captain

7 Jul 2004

Major

    1 Jun 2010

Lieutenant Colonel                                           1 Oct 2015

Colonel                                                            1 Sep 2021

 

(Current as of June 2022)