Mark A. Clark (general)

Last updated
Mark A. Clark
Gen Mark A. Clark.jpg
Nickname(s)"Droopy"
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1981–2014
Rank Major General
Commands heldCommander, MARSOC
Battles/wars First Gulf War
Operation Deliberate Force
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Alma mater South Dakota State University

Mark A. "Droopy" Clark is a retired U.S. Marine Major General. Clark was the fourth commander of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). He retired from the Marine Corps in 2014 upon relinquishing command of MARSOC.

Contents

Early life

Clark is a native of Sioux Falls and was raised in South Dakota and Minnesota. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commercial Economics in 1980. [1] According to a Q&A interview with the SDSU alumni association while Clark was serving as the Chief of Staff of Special Operations Command he said his most memorable moment while attending SDSU was "without a doubt, Hobo Day." [2]

Military career

Upon completion of Officer Candidate School in June 1981, Clark was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. [1] Afterwards, he attended Flight School and was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1983. [1] He was assigned to fly the CH-53 Super Stallion after additional training at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. [3] He participated in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. [4] His first involvement with Special Operations came as a result of a pilot exchange program with the U.S. Air Force where Clark was assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron operating the MH-53J Pave Low. [3] [4] While at the 20th SOS, Clark was deployed in support of Operation Deliberate Force during the Bosnian War. From 2001 to 2002, Clark served as Operations Officer in Task Force K-Bar during the early years of Operation Enduring Freedom. [3] Clark attended the United States Army War College from 2002 to 2003. [1] While a student there, he wrote a 67-page Strategy Research Project titled Should the Marine Corps expand its role in special operations. [5] He was the Director of Operations at United States Special Operations Command from 2009 to 2011. [1] While serving as the Director of Operations in January 2011, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that Clark was nominated for promotion to Major General. [6] [7] In May 2011, he replaced Joseph Votel as SOCOM's Chief of Staff as Votel went off to assume command of Joint Special Operations Command from Admiral William H. McRaven. [8] Clark served as SOCOM's Chief of Staff until August 2012 when he assumed command of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command from Major General Paul E. Lefebvre [4] He is the first MARSOC commander to have served previously at SOCOM. [4]

Awards and badges

U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia-redone.png
Naval Aviator Badge.jpg Naval Aviator insignia

US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Bronze Star ribbon.svg   Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg   Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star
Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg   Aerial Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg   Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medalwith two gold star
Us jointservachiev rib.svg   Joint Service Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg   Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Combat Action Ribbon.svg   Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star
United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg   Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg   Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg   Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg   Navy Meritorious Unit Commendationwith one bronze star
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg   Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Marine Corps Expeditionary ribbon.svg   Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg   National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg   Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg   Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg   Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg   Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg   Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg   Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg   Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg   Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg   NATO Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg   Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg   Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg United States Special Operations Command Badge

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "MARSOC Leadership Biography". August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Alumni profiles:Mark A. Clark". Archived from the original on 2013-04-03.
  3. 1 2 3 "USMC bio: Mark A. Clark". Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 J.R. Wilson (October 24, 2012). "Interview with Maj. Gen. Mark A. Clark". Marine Corps Outlook: 2012 Edition. Defense Media Network. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  5. ↑ Mark A. Clark (April 7, 2003). "Should the Marine Corps expand its role in special operations?" (PDF). Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ "USMC General Officer Announcements: January 2011" . Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ "11 generals tapped for second star". Jan 28, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  8. ↑ Howard Altman (Feb 17, 2011). "Special Operations Command Chief of Staff Votel Named to Head JSOC". Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General of the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command
2012–2014		Succeeded by
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