Governor Polis Announces Major General Robert B. Davis as Colorado’s Next Adjutant General

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced that Colorado's next Adjutant General and Executive Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will be Major General Robert Davis, who has spent most of his career in the Colorado National Guard as well as in the private sector in Colorado, and currently serves as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Army National Guard. This follows the retirement announcement of Major General Laura Clellan. General Clellan's retirement ceremony is on October 18, 2025.

"Let's welcome Major General Bob Davis as the next leader of Colorado's National Guard and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Major General Davis's expertise and leadership, both here in Colorado and at the national level, make him a great fit for this critically important role. Colorado's National Guard members have an important impact during our state's most challenging situations, from supporting communities threatened by wildfires and other natural disasters to ensuring public safety and national security across the state and abroad. As Executive Director of our state's Department of Military and Veterans affairs, General Davis will continue the work to make Colorado the best state for active duty military and for veterans - building on efforts like the tuition waiver for National Guard members, recognizing Colorado schools that support military-connected students and their families, mental health support for military families, and ensuring children with disabilities in military families can choose the school that fits them best. I'm so grateful for Major General Clellan's service to our state and wish her the best of luck in retirement. Major General Clellan's leadership has paved the way for Major General Davis' success," said Governor Jared Polis.

"It has been an enormous honor to serve as Colorado's Adjutant General and to lead the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments of the incredible men and women of the Colorado National Guard and the department, and I am grateful for the unwavering support of Governor Polis and the people of Colorado. I have the utmost confidence that Major General Robert Davis is the right person to take the reins. His distinguished career and deep commitment to service make him exceptionally well-suited for this critical role, and I know he will lead the CONG with the same dedication and integrity that has defined his career. I wish him and the entire organization all the best in the future," said Major General Laura Clellan.

Maj. Gen. Robert B. Davis, Deputy Director of the Army National Guard, was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer after graduating from Norwich University in Vermont. Major General Davis served as Fire Direction and Executive Officer in multiple Batteries before taking command of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 157th Field Artillery. Following company command, he held multiple staff officer positions at both 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery and 169th Field Artillery Brigade. Major General Davis deployed as the Engagements Officer, 169th Field Artillery Brigade, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On his return to Colorado, he again served in multiple staff positions before taking command of 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery. Following the completion of Senior Service College, Major General Davis took command of the 169th Field Artillery Brigade as the unit deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. Returning to Colorado, he served as the Land Component Commander, Colorado Army National Guard. Major General Davis then served as the Deputy G-3/5/7, United States Forces Command. Then he assumed duties as the Assistant Director of the Army National Guard Operations, Plans and Training Directorate (G-3/5/7). Most recently, he served as the Assistant Director and Chief of Staff of the Army National Guard, guiding the formulation, development and implementation of all programs and policies affecting the Army National Guard across the 54 states and territories.

Major General Davis also has extensive experience in the private sector, having previously served as the Vice President of Operations for PopSockets and Director of Operations and Customer Success at Tendril, Inc. At PopSockets, Davis led global manufacturing and operations and successfully brought 20 products to market. At Tendril, Inc., Davis led and managed North American operations and account management teams.

Major General Clellan was appointed Adjutant General and Executive Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in June 2020 and assumed the role in August 2020. In December of 2023, the United States Senate promoted her to the rank of Major General.

Under General Clellan's leadership, Colorado recently officially became state partners with Switzerland under the National Guard State Partnership Program. A signing ceremony with officials from Switzerland and Colorado occurred Sept. 15, 2025, at the Bellevue Palace in Bern, Switzerland. The Swiss Armed Forces and the CONG share expertise in air defense, critical infrastructure protection, cyber security, emergency response, including search and rescue, high-altitude rotary wing operations, mountain operations, space, and medical support.

General Clellan was commissioned as a Military Police Officer into the Active Duty US Army in 1989 and, during more than three decades of military service, served on five operational deployments including in Honduras on Joint Task Force Bravo, Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm, Joint Task Force Panama, Hungary Stabilization Force, and in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. She joined the Colorado Army National Guard (COARNG) in November of 1998, where she has held key leadership positions at multiple levels of command and has deployed overseas multiple times as a Colorado National Guard servicemember. These positions include: Company Commander of the 220th Military Police Company, Battalion Commander of the 193rd Military Police Battalion, J1 of the Special Operations Detachment - Korea, Land Component Commander - COARNG, and Assistant Adjutant General - COARNG. General Clellan has been awarded the Legion of Merit with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Parachutist Badge. See the General's National Guard Bio for a full list of her Decorations and Badges.

###