Vern Clark : biography
Admiral Vernon E. Clark USN (Ret.) (born 7 September 1944) was the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in the United States Navy. He retired 22 July 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 by Defense Secretary Robert Gates- along with former Veterans and Army Secretary Togo West- to lead the military investigation into the Fort Hood massacre.
Awards and decorations
number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters (three awards) |
number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one Gold Award Star (two awards) |
number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Legion of Merit with two Gold Award Stars (three awards) |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
number=3|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Meritorious Service Medal with three Gold Award Stars (four awards |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal |
number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=80}} | Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster (two awards) |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Navy Unit Commendation |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Battle-e-ribbon 2nd award.png|width=80}} | Navy "E" Ribbon with two Battle E’s (two awards) |
number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} | National Defense Service Medal with one service star (two awards) |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=AFEMRib.svg|width=80}} | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars (two campaigns) |
number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Southwest Asia Service Medal with one service star (one campaign) |
number=5|type=award-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one Silver Award Star (six awards) |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon |
number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal Ribbon.png|width=80}} | Vietnam Campaign Medal |
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.
Clark was elected to the board of directors of Raytheon in December 2005 and the board of directors of SRI International in March 2007.
Biography
Born in Sioux City, Iowa, and raised in the midwestern states of Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois, Admiral Clark graduated from Evangel College and earned a Master’s Degree of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Arkansas. He attended Officer Candidate School and received his commission in August 1968.
Admiral 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 Seventeen, and Destroyer Squadron Five. After being selected for flag rank, Admiral Clark commanded Carl Vinson Battle Group/Cruiser Destroyer Group Three, Second Fleet, and United States Atlantic Fleet.