Vern Clark

{{short description|United States Navy admiral}} {{Infobox military person |name= Vernon E. Clark |image= VernClark.jpg |image_size= |alt= |caption= Clark in 2000 |nickname= |birth_date= {{birth date and age|1944|9|7}} |birth_place= Sioux City, Iowa, U.S. |death_date= |death_place= |burial_place= |allegiance= United States |branch= United States Navy |service_years= 1968–2005 |rank= Admiral |unit= |commands= Chief of Naval Operations United States Atlantic Fleet United States Second Fleet Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3 Destroyer Squadron 17 Destroyer Squadron 5 {{USS|Spruance|DD-963}} {{USS|Grand Rapids|PG-98}} |battles= Vietnam War Gulf War |awards= Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Army Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) |relations= |other_work= Raytheon, Board of Directors SRI International, Board of Directors }} [[File:Pentagon on 9.11 - meeting1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Clark at the Pentagon during the September 11 attacks in 2001.]] '''Vernon Eugene Clark'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/103rd-congress/1288 |title=PN1288 — Navy — 103rd Congress (1993-1994) |date=September 23, 1994 |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref> (born September 7, 1944) is a retired admiral who served as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the United States Navy. He retired on July 22, 2005, making his tenure of five years the second-longest serving CNO behind Arleigh Burke. He currently sits on the board of directors of Raytheon and SRI International. In November 2009, he was selected along with former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo West by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to lead the military investigation into the Fort Hood massacre.

==Early life and education== Clark was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and grew up in the states of Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois. Clark graduated from Evangel College and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas. He attended Officer Candidate School and received his commission in August 1968.

==Career== [[File:CNO-Vern-Clark-2005.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Clark speaking aboard ''USS Wisconsin'' (BB-64) in 2005.]] Clark served aboard the destroyers {{USS|John W. Weeks|DD-701}} and {{USS|Gearing|DD-710}}. As a lieutenant, he commanded {{USS|Grand Rapids|PG-98}}. He subsequently commanded {{USS|McCloy|FF-1038}}, {{USS|Spruance|DD-963}}, the Atlantic Fleet's Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, Destroyer Squadron 17, and Destroyer Squadron 5. After being selected for flag rank, Clark commanded ''Carl Vinson'' Battle Group/Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3, Second Fleet, and United States Atlantic Fleet.

Ashore, Clark first served as special assistant to the director of the Systems Analysis Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He later completed assignments as the administrative assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Surface Warfare) and as the administrative aide to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He served as head of the Cruiser-Destroyer Combat Systems Requirements Section and force anti-submarine warfare officer for the commander of Naval Surface Force, Atlantic Fleet, and he directed the Joint Staff's Crisis Action Team for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}} thumb|left|upright|Clark (left) relieving Johnson as Chief of Naval Operations

Clark's first flag assignment was at the United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), where he was director of plans and policy (J5) and financial management and analysis (J8). While commanding the ''Carl Vinson'' Battle Group, he deployed to the Persian Gulf and later served as the Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. Clark has also served as the Deputy and Chief of Staff, United States Atlantic Fleet; the Director of Operations (J3) and subsequently Director, of the Joint Staff.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}} Clark became the 27th Chief of Naval Operations on July 21, 2000, relieving Jay L. Johnson. Since his retirement, Clark has been honored with the Eisenhower Award from the Business Executives for National Security and the Distinguished Sea Service Award from the Naval Order of the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Admiral Vern Clark, U.S. Navy (Ret.) |url=https://secureenergy.org/about/energy-security-leadership-council/admiral-vern-clark-u-s-navy-ret/ |access-date=Aug 24, 2019 |website=Securing America's Future }}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

Clark was elected to the board of directors of Raytheon in December 2005 and the board of directors of SRI International in March 2007.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sri.com/newsroom/press-releases/admiral-vern-clark-joins-sri-international-board-directors |title=Admiral Vern Clark Joins SRI International Board of Directors |publisher=SRI International |date=2007-03-26 |access-date=2013-07-10 |archive-date=2013-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704035148/http://www.sri.com/newsroom/press-releases/admiral-vern-clark-joins-sri-international-board-directors |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Clark now serves on the board of directors of Raytheon Company, Rolls-Royce North America, SRI International, Horizon Lines, the Armed Forces YMCA, and is on the world board of governors of the USO. He serves as a senior advisor with Booz Allen Hamilton, the Defense Policy Board, the advisory boards of Fleishman-Hillard, Computer Science Corporation, the Comptroller General's advisory board of the GAO, and the executive committee of Military Ministry. In addition, he is currently a distinguished professor at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Clark teaches in the Robertson School of Government and the School of Business & Leadership<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.regent.edu/school-of-business-and-leadership/|title=School of Business & Leadership Degrees | Regent University|website=School of Business & Leadership|access-date=Aug 24, 2019}}</ref> and is a member of the Regent's board of trustees. He was also a member of the Board of Visitors at Air University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/Registrar/catalogs/2012-2013_AU_catalog.pdf|title=The Air University Catalog|work=Air University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728162019/https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/Registrar/catalogs/2012-2013_AU_catalog.pdf|archive-date=July 28, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== {| |120px |Surface Warfare Officer badge |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two Gold Award Stars |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Army Distinguished Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Air Force Distinguished Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Legion of Merit with two Gold Award Stars |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Defense Meritorious Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Meritorious Service Medal with three Gold Award Stars |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=80}} |Joint Meritorious Unit Award |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Navy Unit Commendation |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=80}} |Navy "E" Ribbon with two Battle E's |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Ribbon (With Two Bronze Stars).jpg|width=80}} |Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016), 1st award.svg|width=80}} |Southwest Asia Service Medal with one service star |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon|width=80}} |Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver service star |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon |- |80px |Order of May of Naval Merit (''degree unknown'') |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=80}} | |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons}} {{Portal|Biography}} :''This article incorporates text in the public domain from the U.S. Department of Defense.'' *{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/clark_bio.html|title=Biography — Vern Clark|date=March 2, 2005|publisher=Department of Defense|access-date=2006-11-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061030205332/http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/clark_bio.html  |archive-date = 2006-10-30}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/clark/clark-index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121233309/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/clark/clark-index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2006|title=Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Vern Clark, USN|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=2006-11-19}} *{{C-SPAN|80056}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Jay L. Johnson}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Chief of Naval Operations}}|years=2000–2005}} {{s-aft|after=Michael Mullen}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Vern}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:People from Sioux City, Iowa Category:Assemblies of God people Category:Evangel University alumni Category:Military personnel from Iowa Category:United States Navy officers Category:University of Arkansas alumni Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:United States Navy admirals Category:Recipients of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Category:Chiefs of Naval Operations Category:Raytheon Company people Category:Directors of SRI International Category:Regent University faculty