RICHMOND, Va. — Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, recognized the decades of dedicated service of three personnel during a retirement ceremony May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. Diddams presented the VDF Distinguished Service Medal to Col. (Va.) Mark Kenton “Kent” Brinkley and Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) John H. Clatterbuck Jr., and he also presented the VDF Meritorious Service Medal to Staff Sgt. (Va.) Edward Jacobson.
Brinkley joined the VDF in 1985 as one of its earliest members. He served in a wide array of leadership positions and was activated for state active duty six times including response operations for Hurricane Fran, a statewide snow emergency in 1996 and the COVID-19 pandemic. His passion for history enriched the organization’s institutional knowledge and preserved the VDF’s legacy. He was commended for visionary leadership, emphasis on teamwork and professional development and his unwavering dedication to help professionalize and strengthen the VDF as a ready reserve component for the Virginia National Guard.
Clatterbuck joined the VDF in February 1991, and he progressed through numerous high-level noncommissioned officer leadership billets of increasing responsibility at the company, battalion and brigade level culminating as the senior enlisted leader for the VDF’s 1st Regiment. He was commended for sustained leadership across line and specialized units that greatly enhanced training, readiness, recruiting and operational effectiveness in the VDF.
Jacobson join the VDF in May 2012 where he initially served in the aviation unit before transferring to communications and then logistics. During the COVID-19 response, he served on state active duty for more than 19 months, one of the longest mobilizations in VDF history. He mobilized for seven additional state missions for logistics support from January 2022 through October 2025 where he ensured reliable sustainment and operational readiness. He earned a meritorious promotion to staff sergeant in recognition of his outstanding performance.
Col. (Va.) Mark Kenton “Kent” Brinkley reflects on his decades of service after receiving the Virginia Defense Force Distinguished Service Medal from Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the VDF, May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. Brinkley joined the VDF in 1985 as one of its earliest members. He served in a wide array of leadership positions and was activated for state active duty six times including response operations for Hurricane Fran, a statewide snow emergency in 1996 and the COVID-19 pandemic. His passion for history enriched the organization’s institutional knowledge and preserved the VDF’s legacy. He was commended for visionary leadership, emphasis on teamwork and professional development and his unwavering dedication to help professionalize and strengthen the VDF as a ready reserve component for the Virginia National Guard.
Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, presents the VDF Distinguished Service Medal to Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) John H. Clatterbuck Jr. during a retirement ceremony May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. Clatterbuck joined the VDF in February 1991, and he progressed through numerous high-level noncommissioned officer leadership billets of increasing responsibility at the company, battalion and brigade level culminating as the senior enlisted leader for the VDF’s 1st Regiment. He was commended for sustained leadership across line and specialized units that greatly enhanced training, readiness, recruiting and operational effectiveness in the VDF.
Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, presents the VDF Meritorious Service Medal to Staff Sgt. (Va.) Edward Jacobson during a retirement ceremony May 2, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. Jacobson join the VDF in May 2012 where he initially served in the aviation unit before transferring to communications and then logistics. During the COVID-19 response, he served on state active duty for more than 19 months, one of the longest mobilizations in VDF history. He mobilized for seven additional state missions for logistics support from January 2022 through October 2025 where he ensured reliable sustainment and operational readiness. He earned a meritorious promotion to staff sergeant in recognition of his outstanding performance.
