Currently, Mr. Shipley is the President of the Tallahassee Military Officers Association Chapter, building the program to include all services and increasing the membership to an all-time high while expanding programs to serve members through greater support, while enhancing the strength of the legislative arm for Veteran benefits.

He currently serves as the President of the Tallahassee Military Officers Scholarship Fund that dispenses $8,000 annually to graduating Seniors at FAMU and FSU; $500 per selected student in the Air Force, Army, Marines and Naval ROTC programs.

Mr. Shipley also serves as the Volunteer Project Manager the Florida Veterans Foundation’s 2014 and 2015 Homeless Veterans Stand Down. As Project Manager in Stand Downs assisted with significantly reducing the numbers of homeless Veterans in Leon County and improving the Quality of Life for many others. This was achieved with the recruitment of over 400 volunteers to support over 200 Homeless/At Risk Veterans. Due to its efforts and the year-round organizations assisting homeless, by the end of 2015 there were less than 100 homeless Veterans in the Leon County area. The success of this program has never been equaled by others’ follow-on leadership.

As an Active Member of AMVET Post #1776; supporting fund-raising operations committee for the Bell Tower at the Tallahassee National Veterans Cemetery. It was successful and the Bell Tower will be constructed when the COVID-19 infection allows.

He also serves on the following: 

• Board Member of the West Point Society of Tallahassee
• Active Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3308
• Active Member of the American Legion Post #13
• Active Member of the Disabled American Veterans

Education and Training Accomplishments:

• 1971 Graduated Proctor R. Hug High School (Reno, NV)
• 1973 Graduated U.S. Army Winter Warfare Training Center
• 1975 Graduated U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Bachelor of Science 
• 1975 Graduated U.S. Army Ft. Benning, GA Basic Infantry Officer Training 
• 1976 Graduated U.S. Army Airborne School
• 1978 Graduated U.S. Army Mortar Platoon Leader Course
• 1980 Graduated U.S. Army Ft. Benning Advanced Officer Infantry Course
• 1988 Graduated U.S. Army Command and General Staff College 1985 Graduated U.S. Army Recruiting Officers Course
• 1990 Graduated Logistics Executive Development Course (Awarded Distinguished Research Award by the Society of Logistics Engineers)
• 1991 Graduated FL Institute of Technology, Master’s Logistics Management 
• 1991 Attended Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management and U.S. State Department Country Course for Saudi Arabia
• 1993 Attended Battalion Commander’s Course at Ft. Leavenworth, KS
• 1998 Graduated United States Senior Service College (War College)
• 2000 Attended U.S. Army Force Management Course. Organizational Design Florida State University courses (2 classes) in their Instructional System Design in Open and Distance Learning graduate level course
• 2003 Earned Project Management Certificate from Jones International U.

Professional and Employment History:

• 1965-1968 Mowed lawns during the Summer in Reno, NV
• 1965-68 Evening Delivery for the Reno Evening Gazette, then Morning Delivery for the Nevada State Journal
• 1968-70 “Bag Boy / Stocker” at local small business grocery store 1969 Boy Scout Summer Camp staff member
• After graduating from West Point in 1975, Claude served twenty-six (26) years in the U.S. Army and retired in 2001
• Served in the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).
• Commanded Basic Combat Training Company at Fort Dix, New Jersey Security Platoon Leader in the United Nations Command Security Force— Joint Security Area (JAS) at Panmunjom, Korea currently known as Camp Bonifas
• Commanded Combat Support Company (mortar platoon, anti-tank platoon and the scout platoon) in the 4th Infantry Division (M) at Fort Carson, Colorado
• Commanded Forward Support Battalion (multi-functional logistics) in the 1st Infantry Division (M) at Fort Riley, KS
• Commanded Division Support Command (multi-functional logistics brigade) in the 10th Mountain Division (LI) at Fort Drum, New York
• As an Army staff officer, Colonel Shipley was assigned positions from company level to three-star general level staff officer positions:
  – Executive Officer of Basic Training Company
  – Assistant Brigade S-l (Personnel) Basic Combat Training Brigade o Basic Combat Training Battalion S-3 (Operations Officer)
  – Infantry Battalion Motor Officer responsible to Battalion Commander for Combat Vehicle readiness
  – Recruiting Battalion S-3 (Operations Officer)
  – Pentagon: Recruiting Command’s Liaison with the Department of the Army’s Enlisted Personnel Accessions Office
  – Main Support Battalion Support Operations Officer for Division o Main Support Battalion Executive Officer
  – Foreign Military Sales Adviser to Saudi General Commanding a Maintenance Depot followed by advising Saudi Army Ordnance Corps’ senior Maintenance Officer
  – Senior Logistics Observer/Controller: National Training Center
  – Director of Organization Design, Policy and Material Development for Army’s Logistics Units
• Served as grant manager from 2001 to 2002 responsible for implementation of three (3) pilot studies assessing the use of computers and classroom management software to improve student performance; one of which was at Jefferson County’s Middle School
• Served from 2002 to 2004 in the Department of Education’s Educational Technology Directorate to manage federal grants that helped reduce Internet access costs for K-12
• As a federal contractor, from 2004 to 2008, Claude advised the US Army in its organizational redesign of combat logistics organizations to make them more highly deployable and self-sufficient. Units from Brigade size (5,000) to Division (15,000) plus Corps Headquarters were redesigned during wartime operations for the first time since World War II.
  – SYColeman Corporation: Observed and wrote Initial Insight Memorandum supporting information for the Army’s
  – SYColeman Corporation: Wrote the logistics doctrine Field Manual Interim for the Heavy Brigade Combat Team
  – SYColeman Corporation: Researched and developed Lessons Learned presentations for decisions by senior leaders on an Independent Assessment Panel for Ground Based Missile Defense,
  – L-3 Corporation: Modular Force Observation Team as Logistics Observer (Subject Matter Expert) provide logistics information for Initial Insights Memorandum
  – Logistics Management, Inc.— Support implementation of logistics Command and Control system: Battle Command Sustainment Support System (BCS3)
  – L-3 Corporation: MPRI— Senior Mentor for the Army’s Pre­ Command Course for Battalion/Brigade Commanders (senior leaders)

Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:

• Active member of the Leon County Veterans Organization Leaders Council coordinating all Veteran related events or pertinent information throughout the year and effecting planning, participation and execution. His hard work culminated in successful service and benefit to all County Veterans. Enhanced awareness of Veteran population and services to the public, allowing provisions to serve the Veterans
• President of the Tallahassee Military Officers Association Chapter, building the program to include all services and increasing the membership to an all- time high while expanding programs to serve members through greater support, while enhancing the strength of the legislative arm for Veteran benefits
• President of the Tallahassee Military Officers Scholarship Fund that dispenses $8,000 annually to graduating Seniors at FAMU and FSU; $500 per selected student in the Air Force, Army, Marines and Naval ROTC programs
• Volunteer Project Manager the Florida Veterans Foundation’s 2014 and 2015 Homeless Veterans Stand Down. As Project Manager in Stand Downs assisted with significantly reducing the numbers of homeless Veterans in Leon County and improving the Quality of Life for many others. This was achieved with the recruitment of over 400 volunteers to support over 200 Homeless / At Risk Veterans. Due to its efforts and the year-round organizations assisting homeless, by the end of 2015 there were less than 100 homeless Veterans in the Leon County area. The success of this program has never been equaled by others’ follow-on leadership
• The Strategic Planner/ Special Projects Officer for the Director of the Florida Office of Drug Control from 2008 until 2011. His primary mission was to support the Drug Policy Advisory Council, provide outreach to stakeholders, support implementation of Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), the PDMP’s Implementation and Oversight Task Force, and conduct liaison with the Florida PDMP Foundation. His insight and contribution have had a huge impact, especially during the trying times of opioid addiction
• During his tenure in the Office of Drug Control, Claude was assigned to work with the Florida State Legislature for the successful passage of the PDMP better known as the Anti-Pill Mill legislation. It had a prodigious effect on the reduction of the number of prescription drug overdose deaths in Florida and improved doctor and pharmacist patient quality of medical care
• As an Active Member of AMVET Post #1776; supporting fund-raising operations committee for the Bell Tower at the Tallahassee National Veterans Cemetery. It was successful and the Bell Tower will be constructed when the COVID-19 infection allows
• Awe-inspiring Speaker at many Veterans events for the VFW, American Legion, MOAA, and the Tallahassee National Cemetery. One of the most sought-after speakers of Veteran issues and also for inspirational messages
• Board Member of the West Point Society of Tallahassee
• Active Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3308 Active Member of the American Legion Post #13
• Active Member of the Disabled American Veterans

Civic Activities and Contributions:

• Member of Economic Club of Florida
• Assisted in executing the Leon County Homeless Count; focused on Veterans
• Appointed as the Florida Veterans Foundation, District Six Director where he also served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer
• The United States Military Academy at West Point’s volunteer local District Coordinator for Congressional District 02 (Congressman Dunn) and Congressional District 05 (Congressman Lawson). Over the last sixteen years the local Admissions team has each year assisted 1-6 aspirants achieve their dream of an Appointment to West Point
• Speaker at high school awards convocations and present West Point Appointment and $1,000 Check from West Point Society of Tallahassee’s Brigadier General “Pete” Hidalgo fund to newly selected West Point Appointees
• Speaker at North Florida Christian High School annual awards ceremony to present the West Point Society of Tallahassee’s Leadership Award to a deserving Junior

Awards and Honors:

Military:

• Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Army Commendation Medal
• Army Achievement Medal
• Good Conduct Medal
• National Defense Service Medal o Southwest Asia Service Medal o Army Service Ribbon
• Overseas Service Ribbon

Civic:

• United Way of Broward County Award for Prescription Drug
• Monitoring Program leadership towards a Drug-Free Florida
• Presented the Glenn J. Winuk Award for those who render sacrificial service for the benefit of others

Written narrative:

In his role a West Point District Coordinator for Congressional Districts 05 and 02 Colonel Shipley has coordinated and directed the efforts of senior retired officers working with Academy applicants and families who desire to serve our nation. This activity has involved sustained interaction in our high schools on the identification and mentoring of students from their Junior Year through graduation. In that time frame his mentoring has been fundamental to understanding the commitment to the profession of arms and nation by the applicant and family. Unlike civilian institutions, application to the Academy requires the support and nomination of those seeking admission. Colonel Shipley has provided his career professional expertise through participation in Congressional Nomination Panels which provide counsel to the legislators in both Districts. His seasoned mentoring extends well beyond matters pertaining to the four years of Academy education and training. Of direct importance has been his role in facilitating face to face interaction with officers who have served in various Service Branches. His objective has been to create a vision of service including the challenges and opportunities. His sustained dedication to the students, parents and the Academy has resulted in graduates servicing all over the world.

Claude Shipley never sleeps when it comes to serving Veterans. He is a “force” of good wherever he is and that seems to be everywhere. This Veteran Advocate has a reputation of “being there” when it comes to developing programs to relieve Veterans from their challenges. His creativity is only exceeded by his natural leadership to effect delivery to those in need. I’ve personally watched Colonel Shipley in his execution of programs that provided relief to dependents by way of financial support and especially those who are on their way to the “other side”. He advocates comfort to Veterans and their widows through life’s challenges through their time of passing, while ensuring that the family left behind knows that their loved one has received the greatest reward of recognition when they are gone.

Colonel Shipley generates an exceptional cooperative spirit in other Veterans that he enlists to serve our brothers and sisters. He exudes a willingness from others without the use of rank. He has those admirable attributes not normally found in a senior officer that solicit trust, confidence and respect by all. Those who work feverishly for the Veterans feel a kinship of care with Claude and give greater effort to meet the goals set. I watched the building of organizations under his tutelage – Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) – where he took the struggling organization and collaborated with all to create a placed that not only served Veterans in all stages of their lives but also united a board to recognize students with scholarships.

There is not ever a Veterans event that I have attended where Claude was absent. Not only was he there for the pomp and circumstance but also to work, assemble, add to, and support those who were responsible for the event. He is seen by all as the inspirational orator that moves the masses to be a real part of the Veteran Advocacy movement. As a neophyte in my early days at the Florida Veterans Foundation I witnessed his knowledge and ability to protect and serve others and learned a lot about service to others and passion of fellow Veterans through his example.

Claude is a humble servant, trusted advisor, and a fierce champion of a huge array of programs. He never restricts himself to just one genre of service. I can’t count the number of supporters he has due to his diverse and countless Veteran services. He is the resident expert and has demonstrated huge success in Homeless / At Risk Veterans Stand Downs, Emergency Financial Assistance, Veterans Treatment Courts, Opioid Addiction / Healthcare, Veterans Educational programs. Veterans Resource Education, Development and Selection of Military Academy Nominees, Community Education of Veterans, Florida Office of Drug Control. He not only exceeds all expectations in the preceding programs, but he also makes the time for team building of all echelons to include the legislature to recognize those who have already served and those who paid the ultimate price. As a testimonial you can witness his work in the Capitol Courtyard of recognition of those fine men and women.

Colonel Shipley has given of himself to better the lives of Florida Veterans without ever expecting any compensation or recognition for his hard work and time. I must admit that I know of only a few throughout the entire state of Florida that expend the amount of time that he does and also the effort. His success in delivery of relief to countless veterans is without peer. As the President of the Florida Veterans Foundation I sought the wisdom of this prodigious talent for Veteran statewide programs. He never let me down. We were so much more successful due to Claude’s insight.