Joseph Claus, a New York Army National Guard officer with nearly 30 years of service including a combat deployment to Iraq, received a promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel at the Joint Force Headquarters here on April 2.[private]Presenting Claus with his promotion order was the New York Army National Guard senior intelligence officer, Colonel David Martinez. Claus was presented his new rank by his mother, Margaret.
A traditional National Guard officer, Claus is employed as the Watervliet Arsenal Emergency Services Chief.
He and his wife Barbara reside in Grafton, New York.
Claus began his military career in 1987 as an enlisted Signals Intelligence Analyst. He graduated from Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training in 1988.
He received a direct commission to 2nd Lieutenant in the New York Army National Guard in January 2000. Claus graduated from the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course and was assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, New York.
Claus has held a variety of key developmental positions over his career including Security Manager, Collection Manager, Analysis and Control Element Chief, Special Security Officer and Company Commander.
Claus served as part of the New York National Guard response to the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City as part of Operation Rainbow Hope in September 2001.
He went on to deploy with the 42nd Infantry Division for Operation Iraqi Freedom 3 in Tikrit, Iraq from 2004-2005.
Claus’ professional military education includes Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Captain’s Career Course, and the Command and General Staff Officer’s Course. He holds two Bachelor’s degrees – a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Siena College in 1995 and a Bachelors Certificate in Homeland Security from Excelsior College in 2008.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), National Defense Service Ribbon (2nd award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal. [/private]