DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced the retirement of Major General Laura Clellan, The Adjutant General of Colorado and Executive Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, a member of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet. General Clellan’s retirement ceremony is October 18, 2025.
“I extend my, and the State of Colorado’s, sincere gratitude and congratulations to Major General Laura Clellan on her retirement and thank her for her many years of dedicated service to the state of Colorado, leadership of Colorado’s National Guard, and diligent efforts to support Colorado’s brave service members and military families. Through wildfires and floods, a pandemic and unprecedented times, General Clellan led the Colorado National Guard with dignity, supporting Coloradans and our communities through turbulent times. I am proud of our work to support our military and veterans’ families, ensuring those who sacrifice the most for our safety and security have the support needed to thrive in our beautiful state, and I am thankful for General Clellan’s pivotal efforts in that work. The State of Colorado is made immeasurably better by General Clellan’s years of service and I wish her the best in retirement,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
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.
"Serving as the Adjutant General of Colorado has been the greatest honor of my career, a privilege beyond words, and the highlight of my time in uniform. Leading the Soldiers and Airmen of the Colorado National Guard, the state employees of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol, has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over the past five years, I have witnessed extraordinary accomplishments made possible only by the unwavering commitment to service demonstrated by every member of this remarkable organization. I could not be prouder of what we have achieved together, and I am deeply grateful for their trust, professionalism, and tireless dedication to the people of Colorado,” said Major General Laura Clellan.
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.
The Governor’s Office will immediately begin the search for candidates for this cabinet position. See the full job posting.
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