Mark A. Clark

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. He was the Director of Operations at United States Special Operations Command from 2009 to 2011. 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.

Awards and badges

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)