Editing Vern Clark (section)

==Career==
[[File:CNO-Vern-Clark-2005.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Clark speaking aboard [[USS Wisconsin (BB-64)|''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 ''[[USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)|Carl Vinson]]'' Battle Group/[[Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3]], [[United States Second Fleet|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 [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Operation Desert Storm]].{{citation needed|date=February 2012}}
[[File:USNsalute.jpg|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|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}}</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}}</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|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 &#124; 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 (United States Air Force)|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 (United States Air Force)|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>