Mark A. Clark (general)

Mark A. "Droopy" Clark is a retired United States Marine Corps 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.

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. 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."

Military career
Upon completion of Officer Candidate School in June 1981, Clark was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Afterwards, he attended Flight School and was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1983. He was assigned to fly the CH-53 Super Stallion after additional training at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. He participated in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. His first involvement with Special Operations came as a result of a pilot exchange program with the United States Air Force, where Clark was assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron operating the MH-53J Pave Low. 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.

Clark attended the United States Army War College from 2002 to 2003. While a student there, he wrote a 67-page Strategy Research Project titled "Should the Marine Corps expand its role in special operations." He was the Director of Operations at United States Special Operations Command from 2009 to 2011. In January 2011, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that Clark was nominated for promotion to major general. 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. 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. He was the first MARSOC commander to have served previously at SOCOM.

Awards and badges


Naval Aviator insignia

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star

Aerial Achievement Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medalwith two gold star

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star

Navy Presidential Unit Citation

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Navy Unit Commendation

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendationwith one bronze star

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal

National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze star

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Armed Forces Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze star

Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star

NATO Medal

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

United States Special Operations Command Badge