FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Sep. 25, 2025
CONTACT: Colorado National Guard Public Affairs, 720-250-1053, ng.co.coarng.list.militarysupport@mail.mil
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Governor Jared Polis has appointed U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Davis as 45th adjutant general of Colorado and executive director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Davis has 34 years of military service, spending most of his career in the Colorado National Guard and has worked at the executive level in the private sector in Colorado.
He will serve as a member of the governor’s cabinet.
“Maj. Gen. Davis’s expertise and leadership, both here in Colorado and at the national level, make him a great fit for this critically important role,” said Polis. “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. Maj. Gen. Clellan’s leadership has paved the way for Maj. Gen. Davis’ success.”
Clellan has served as adjutant general since August 2020. She led the CONG through multiple overseas deployments and state responses including COVID-19, the largest and longest emergency response in our state’s history. Under her leadership, a new state partnership with Switzerland under the National Guard State Partnership Program has been established.
“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 Maj. Gen. 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 Clellan.
Davis will assume command at a ceremony Oct. 18, 2025, prior to the retirement of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan.
“I am grateful to Governor Polis for this opportunity and honored to rejoin the Colorado National Guard alongside its dedicated service members,” Davis said. “My family and I are thrilled and look forward to this next chapter. I approach this role with humility and a firm commitment to building upon the strong foundation laid by MG Clellan. I extend my sincere thanks to MG Clellan for her years of dedicated service, and I share her commitment to the Soldiers and Airmen of the Colorado National Guard and to the continued service of our state.”
Davis was commissioned in 1992 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Norwich University, Vermont. Upon commissioning, he served two years in the Rhode Island Army National Guard before transferring to the Colorado Army National Guard.
Davis served in numerous positions in the 157th and 169th Field Artillery, culminating in his assignment as brigade commander. He has two operational deployments serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Operation Spartan Shield; and Operation Inherent Resolve. He also served as land component commander, COARNG. While still a Colorado Guardsman, Davis became Deputy G-3/5/7, United States Forces Command. He next served as assistant director of the U.S. Army National Guard Operations, Plans and Training Directorate (G-3/5/7) followed by National Guard Assistant for Director of the Army National Guard Staff (Chief of Staff). In the latter role, Davis guided the formulation, development and implementation of all programs and policies affecting the ARNG across the 54 states and territories. Davis currently serves as deputy director of the ARNG in Arlington, Va.
Along with numerous other decorations and badges, Davis holds the Legion of Merit (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Bronze Star.
His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Norwich University, a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, and a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Annapolis, Maryland.
The DMVA consists of the CONG, Division of Veterans Affairs, and Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, totaling more than 6,700 Soldiers, Airmen, civilians, state employees, and volunteers. The DMVA works to support the National Guard to mobilize for overseas contingency operations, coordinates National Guard disaster response in Colorado and the region, supports the missions of the Civil Air Patrol, and assists our veterans to receive the federal benefits that they earned and deserve. Davis is also responsible for supporting Colorado’s state partnerships with Slovenia, Jordan, and, now, Switzerland.
For 165 years, the men and women of the CONG have served our nation in wartime and as the first military responders in support of civil authorities during emergencies. The CONG’s Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen are Always Ready, Always There.