Major General Thomas Gilmour Cleland
1942-2008
Commander of the New York State Guard
Life Member 

Upon graduation from college, General Cleland enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served on active duty at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the Advanced Combat Infantry Program and the Marine Corps NCO Training Institute. Upon the standing down of his reserve battalion (Atlantic City, NJ), he transferred to the New Jersey Air National Guard where he served as Security Police Flight Leader. Following a business transfer to Toledo, Ohio, he joined the United States Air Force Reserve and served at Selfridge Air Base (Mount Clemens, MI) as Security Police Flight Leader until he was honorably discharged.

General Cleland became a member of the New York Guard in 1988 as a Captain in the 56th Regiment, 1st Brigade. His initial assignment was as Battalion Commander (1/56), followed by assistant S-3 and S-3 of the 1st Brigade. In 1994 he was appointed as Commander of the 56th Regiment and subsequently, Deputy Commander of the 56th Brigade. He was assigned to the Joint Staff as Assistant Chief of Staff in 1996 and to the Army Division as Chief of Staff in October of 1998. Brigadier General Cleland was appointed Assistant Commander of the New York Guard in November of 1999 and was appointed to his current rank 17 March, 2000.

He has successfully completed courses at the Army War College, Carlisle, PA and the Navy War College, Newport, RI. He holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Military Studies from American Military University. He is past President of the Militia Association of New York and a board member of The New York Military Education Foundation and the New York Military Relief Association.

He retired from Steelcase, Inc. in 1997 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and currently conducts a business consulting practice. He is active in the New York-New Jersey Trails Conference, the Appalachian Trails Conference and the American Audubon Society. He is an active Member of the Knights Templar, Military Orders of Saint Constantine and Saint Lazarus, the Saint Andrews Society of New York, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and Niadh Nask. He is a member of: The Marine Corps League, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Naval Reserve Association, the Militia Association of New York and the New York Guard Association. General Cleland has formerly served on the Board of Directors of Iona College, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and currently serves on the Academy Appointments Committee for Congresswoman Sue Kelly.

General Cleland resides with his wife Janice in Westchester County, New York

Webmasters note: Major General Thomas Gilmour Cleland, 66, died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Spotsylvania County on Friday, Aug. 22. Please our news article on his passing at http://www.mclwestchester.org/NewsEvents/News/tabid/86/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/300/Default.aspx