COL (Ret) Ralph L. (Bo) Clayton III is a native of Reidsville, NC. After graduation from Appalachian State University, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. Upon completing the basic course, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) 3-320th FAR as a Company Fire Support Officer, Battery Fire Direction Officer, Recon & Survey Officer and Battalion Motor Officer and deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His follow-on assignment was in the 82d Airborne Division 319th AFAR as a Squadron Fire Support Officer, Battalion Fire Direction Officer, Battalion S-4 and Commander of Battery B, 1st Battalion 319th AFAR.
In 1999, he attended the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, followed by service in the 1st PSYOP Battalion (Airborne) as a Detachment Commander, Headquarters Company Commander, Product Development Company Commander and Battalion S-3 with deployments to El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Argentina. His subsequent assignment was as a lead strategic planner and PSYOP planner in the J35 at U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Florida. From March 2008 to March 2009, COL Clayton served as the Chief, Information Operations Task Force (IOTF) for the Multi-National Corps–Iraq in Baghdad.
COL Clayton assumed command of 6th MISO Battalion (Airborne) in May 2009. During his command, the Spartans executed missions in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria in support of JSOTF-Trans Sahara as well as operations in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in support of SOCCE-Horn of Africa. From July 2010 to May 2011, COL Clayton led the MISO Task Force in support of ISAF in Afghanistan. Upon change of command, he assumed the duties as Deputy Commander, 4th MISG (A) for one year followed by his assignment as a US Army War College National Security Fellow at the University of North Carolina and Duke University.
COL Clayton was assigned to US Special Operations Command in JUL 2013 where he served as Chief, MISO Branch and subsequently as the J39 Division Chief for Information Operations which also included responsibility for Cyber, Space, MISO, Electronic Warfare and Special Activities.
COL Clayton assumed command of 733d Mission Support Group at Fort Eustis, VA on 28 June 2016, where he served in the Garrison Commander role for Fort Eustis under the Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
Upon retirement, COL Clayton was hired as the Deputy Town Manager for Newport News Virginia.
COL Clayton's education includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Appalachian State and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star (2 OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Order of Saint Barbara.