Richard M. Clark

Richard Milo Clark (born c. 1964) is a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force, currently serving as the 21st Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration.[1] A bomber pilot, he graduated from the academy in 1986.[2]

Richard M. Clark
Lieutenant General Clark in 2020
Born	c. 1964 (age 56–57)
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1986–present
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	United States Air Force Academy Third Air Force Eighth Air Force 12th Flying Training Wing 34th Bomb Squadron
Battles/wars	Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (2)
Alma mater	United States Air Force Academy (BS) Webster University (MA) Air University (MA) Naval War College (MA)

Early life and education

From Richmond, Virginia, Richard Milo Clark[3] graduated from Jefferson-Huguenot-Wythe High School, where he was an All-Metro offensive lineman in football and also stood out in track and field. Originally committed to play at William & Mary in Williamsburg, he took an interest in the United States Air Force Academy during his senior year,[4] was accepted, and graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in management. As a cadet, he was a four-year letterman on the football team at linebacker.[5][6][7] During his senior season in 1985, the Falcons went 12–1 and were eighth in the final AP poll.[8][9]

In 1991, Clark was named a distinguished graduate from Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base and, in 1994, he received a Master of Arts in human resource development at Webster University.[1] In 1996, he attended the USAF Weapons School, then at Ellsworth AFB, and in 1998 he was again a distinguished graduate at the Naval War College. The University of Maryland awarded him an honorary doctorate.[1]

Military career

Clark is a command pilot, with more than 4,200 combined hours in the B-1 Lancer, EC-135 Looking Glass, KC-135 Stratotanker, T-1 Jayhawk, T-38 Talon, T-6 Texan II, and Learjet C-21.[1] Four hundred of his flight hours have been in combat, and he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement and courage in the Global War on Terror. His initial flying assignment after pilot training was the Looking Glass in 1988 at Offutt AFB, then moved to the B-1 in 1991 at McConnell AFB.[1]

From 2010 to 2012, Clark served as the Commandant of Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy. In 2016, Clark took command of the Third Air Force in Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and in 2018, he was named Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration.[1]

In July 2020, President Donald Trump nominated Clark to become the next Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, succeeding Jay Silveria.[10] He began his duties on September 23, becoming the first black person to lead the institution.[6][7]

References

1. "LIEUTENANT GENERAL RICHARD M. CLARK". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
2. "3rd Air Force bids farewell to one commander, welcomes another". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
3. Polaris (PDF). XXVII. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1986. p. 84. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
4. O'Connor, John (September 23, 2020). "RPS graduate Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark assumes command at U.S. Air Force Academy". Richmond Times-Dispatch. (Virginia). Retrieved October 5, 2020.
5. "Football media guide: All-time letterman" (PDF). U.S. Air Force Academy Athletics. 2019. p. 126.
6. Roeder, Tom (September 23, 2020). "Clark's ascent to Air Force Academy's top job makes history". The Gazette. (Colorado Springs). Retrieved October 5, 2020.
7. "General becomes 1st Black head of U.S. Air Force Academy". Colorado Sun. (Denver). Associated Press. September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
8. "Air Force turns Texas coach into a prophet". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. January 1, 1986. p. 14.
9. "AP's final Top 20". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. January 3, 1986. p. 11.
10. "Lt. Gen. Richard Clark nominated to be next Academy superintendent". United States Air Force Academy. Retrieved 2020-07-03.