Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Thomas E. Clark, U.S. Army (Ret.) began military service in 1966 at age 22 and was commissioned a 2LT in the US Army Reserve after completing The University of Richmond's ROTC program and graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Business.

His first assignment was as a training officer and later the commander of an infantry training company at Fort Ord California. Clark eventually received orders to be an infantry platoon leader for a tour in Vietnam. A motorcycle accident stepped in at this point and changed the
course of his military career. After recovering, he secured a slot in the Army aviation program.

He completed his initial flight training at Fort Rucker Alabama and received his wings in early 1970. He completed further training in the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, the ubiquitous Army forward air control and reconnaissance aircraft deployed in forward theaters in Vietnam.
Captain Clark (CPT) then received orders to serve a tour with the 220th Aviation Company located at Phu Bai Airfield south of Hue in central Vietnam. In early 1970, he made a short detour on his way to his new posting to attend the Air Force Jungle Survival School in the Philippines.

He served one tour in Vietnam. During the period of July 11-23,1970, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his contribution to Fire Support Base Ripcord.

Clark returned to the US in 1971 and chose to stay in the Army despite the significant draw down that took place at the end of the conflict. He completed several assignments in staff positions before transitioning to rotor based aircraft. Clark completed training in the UH-1 Huey and was later attached to the Aviation Battalion at Schofield Barracks on Oahu, Hawaii.

In 1977, his next aviation assignment was at Fort Sam Houston San Antonio Texas with the US Army's Aviation Readiness Group.

Now a Major, Clark served in the ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command in Seoul, South Korea as Deputy Director of Operations. He returned to the US in 1981 to begin flight training in the AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter.

In August 1981, Clark was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed to command of an AH-1 Cobra combat aviation company based at Fort Ord, California. He commanded this company for 13 months.

LTC Clark completed his military career at the Pentagon in 1987 after serving 21 years in the Army. He then began his second career as an investment executive for Morgan Stanley. Clark
retired from Morgan Stanley in 2019.

Clark continued his interest and love for aviation by getting a civilian glider rating in 2019. He currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Linda. He has two children and four grandchildren.