Brig. Gen. Andy “Spoo” Clark is the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In this position, Brig. Gen. Clark provides military advice and counsel to the Ambassador, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Central Command Commander. Brig. Gen. Clark is also responsible for developing and maintaining relationships and communication with the UAE Ministry of Defense, General Staff and senior civilian leaders.
Brig. Gen. Clark entered active duty in January 1996 following his commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Wisconsin. He served in several leadership positions at the squadron, group and wing level, including Commander of the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE, Commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, and Commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra AB, UAE. He is a command pilot with over 4,200 hours in the U-2S, the AC-130U and various other aircraft. He accumulated nearly 1,400 combat hours during missions in Bosnia (1998), Kosovo (1999), Afghanistan (2001-2021) and Iraq (2003-2022).
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Clark served as the Commanding General, NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force, Sigonella AB, Italy.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Atmospheric Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Strategic Science, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2019 Senior Executive Fellow, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Senior Officer Policy Course, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
2024 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1996–November 1997, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. December 1997–December 2000, AC-130U Pilot, Chief of Mobility, 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
3. January 2001–December 2002, AC-130U Instructor Pilot, Training Officer, 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. January 2003–June 2004, Flight Commander, AC-130U Evaluator Pilot, 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. July 2004–December 2006, U-2S/T-38 Pilot, U-2S Instructor/Evaluator pilot, Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
6. January 2007–July 2007, U-2S Group Evaluator Pilot, 9th Operations Group, Beale AFB, Calif.
7. August 2007–July 2008, Student, National Intelligence University, Defense Intelligence Agency, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
8. August 2008–May 2010, Chief of Test and Evaluation Policy, Chief of ISR Programs, Directorate of Test and Evaluation, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. June 2010–April 2011, Director of Operations, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
10. May 2011–May 2012, Commander, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
11. June 2012–November 2013, Deputy Director, Future Operations Chief, U.S. Northern Command, Joint Reconnaissance Center, Peterson AFB, Colo.
12. December 2013–May 2015, Executive Officer, USNORTHCOM Director of Operations (J3), Peterson AFB, Colo.
13. June 2015–June 2016, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
14. July 2016–April 2017, Air Force Chair and Program Director for Central Asia, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
15. May 2017–March 2018, Vice Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
16. April 2018–June 2020, Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
17. July 2020–May 2021, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. June 2021–June 2022, Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates
19. July 2022–July 2025, Commanding General, NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force, Sigonella AB, Italy
20. August 2025–present, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché, United States Embassy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2012–May 2015, Deputy Director, U.S. Northern Command Joint Reconnaissance Center, and Executive Officer, USNORTHCOM Director of Operations (J3), Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2022–July 2025, Commanding General, NATO Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Force, Sigonella Air Base, Italy, as a brigadier general
3. August 2025-present, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché, United States Embassy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: 4,400+ (1,300+ combat)
Aircraft flown: U-2S, TU-2S, T-38A, AC-130U, C-130E, KC-10, RQ-4, EC-130H and E-11
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross with valor device
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Gallant Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with valor device and three oak leaf clusters
(Current as of September 2025)