He graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commercial Economics in 1980.

"[2] Upon completion of Officer Candidate School in June 1981, Clark was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

[1] He was assigned to fly the CH-53 Super Stallion after additional training at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.

[1] While a student there, he wrote a 67-page Strategy Research Project titled "Should the Marine Corps expand its role in special operations.

[1] In January 2011, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that Clark was nominated for promotion to major general.