General Wesley K. Clark, US Army, Retired

General Wesley K. Clark is currently associated with Stephens Group, Inc., working high technology venture capital. He is also a noted speaker presenting key insights on strategic leadership, foreign and military policy and high technology to corporate leaders and other audiences. General Clark serves pro bono as a distinguished senior advisor for the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), a Director of the Atlantic Council and a member of the board of the International Crisis Group. On August 9, 2000, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor.

General Clark was the Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 10 July 1997 through 3 May 2000. He was also the Commander in Chief of the United States European Command.

As Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, General Clark was in overall command of NATO’s military forces in Europe. Responsible for safeguarding an area extending from the northern tip of Norway to the eastern border of Turkey, he assured the peace, security and territorial integrity of the NATO member nations. In his position as SACEUR, General Clark was also the overall commander of the approximately 75,000 troops from 37 NATO and other nations participating in ongoing operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. In 1999, General Clark commanded Operation Allied Force, the Alliance’s successful military action in response to the Kosovo crisis. This was NATO’s first major, combat action, and largest air operation in Europe since the Second World War.

Simultaneously, as Commander in Chief of U.S. European Command, General Clark commanded United States military activities in 89 countries and territories covering more than 13 million square miles of Europe, Africa and the Middle East and involving approximately 109,000 American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

General Clark’s previous assignment was as Commander in Chief of the United States Southern Command, Panama, from June 1996 to July 1997, where he commanded all U.S. forces and was responsible for the direction of most U.S. military activities and interest in Latin America and the Caribbean. His prior assignment was Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, the Joint Staff (April 1994-June 1996) where he was responsible for worldwide politico-military affairs and U.S. military strategic planning. He also led the military negotiations for the Bosnian Peace Accords at Dayton. General Clark was an Armor Officer who had commanded army forces at every level, from a mechanized infantry company in combat in Vietnam through command of the 1st Calvary Division, Fort Hood, and Texas (1992-1994).

General Clark spent five years training leaders and soldiers at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California, and with the Battle Command Training Program (BCTP). As the Commander of National Training Center (October 1989-October 1991), General Clark trained many of the forces that won the victory in Desert Storm.

He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Concepts and Doctrine and Developments, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia (October 1991-August 1992), where he created new systems to evaluate and prioritize high technology and helped pioneer the digital revolution in the Army.

General Clark is a 1966 graduate of the United States Military Academy of West Point, New York, where he graduated first in his class. He holds a Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar (August 1966-August 1968). He is a graduate of the National War College, Command and General Staff College, Armor Officer Advanced and Basic Courses, and Ranger and Airborne schools. General Clark was a White House Fellow in 1975-1976 and served as a Special Assistant to the Director of Management and Budget. He has also served as an Assistant Professor of Social Science at the United States Military Academy.

Among his military decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (five awards), Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Silver Star, Legion of Merit (four awards), Bronze Star Medal (two awards), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards) and the Army Commendation Medal (two awards), NATO Medal for Service with NATO on Operations in Relation to Kosovo, NATO Medal for Service with NATO on Operations in Relation to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.

His Foreign awards include the Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom); Commander of the Legion of Honor (France); Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords (Netherlands); Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy; Grand Cross of the Medal of Military Merit (Portugal); The Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of Republic of Poland; Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Grand Medal of Military Merit (White Band) (Spain); The Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (Belgium); Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defense First Class (Czech Republic); Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic; Commander’s Cross, The Silver Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia; Madarski Konnik Medal (Bulgaria); Commemorative Medal of the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic First Class (Slovakia); First Class Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (Lithuania); Order of the Cross of the Eagle (Estonia); The Skandeberg Medal (Albania); Order of Merit of Morocco; Order of Merit of Argentina; The Grade of Prince Butmir w/Ribbon and Star (Croatia) and the Military Service Cross of Canada.

General Clark and his wife Gert live in Washington, DC. General Clark grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas.