Brig. Gen. Howard T. Clark III is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He is responsible for policy, guidance and oversight for rapid global mobility air operations around the world. These functions include airfield operations, Civil Reserve Air Fleet management, air operations center functional management, nuclear operations, global force management, air expeditionary force oversight, resource and readiness review monitoring, aircrew training, aircrew standardization and evaluation, joint exercise and commander's training guidance.
Brig. Gen. Clark was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy and studied as a Draper Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology researching computer techniques for large space structures. He has served as a C-5 and KC-10 aircraft commander, instructor pilot and evaluator pilot, has held command positions at the squadron, group and wing level, and has served in positions on the Headquarters Air Force and Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa staff. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Clark served as Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
A command pilot with more than 3,800 hours in the KC-10 and C-5, Brig. Gen. Clark has flown global airlift and air refueling missions including combat and combat support during Operation Southern Watch, Allied Force, and Restore Hope, and has deployed over ten times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In his civilian job, Brig. Gen. Clark is a pilot with a major US carrier where he serves as a MD-11 first officer with more than 2,000 hours.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, Astronautical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1992 Master of Science, Astronautical Engineering, Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge
1996 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hulbert Field, Fla.
2019 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2022 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1990–May 1992, AFIT Civilian Programs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
2. June 1992–August 1993, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
3. September 1993–April 1995, C-5 Co-pilot, Safety Officer, and Computer Section Chief, Dover AFB, Del.
4. May 1995–September 1995, Director of Airlift Operations, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras
5. October 1995–October 1996, C-5 Aircraft Commander, Current Operations Planner, Dover AFB, Del.
6. November 1996–December 1996, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. January 1997–January 1999, C-5 Instructor Pilot, Wing Executive Officer, Flight Commander, Dover AFB, Del.
8. February 1999–May 2000, KC-10 Aircraft Commander, McGuire AFB, N.J.
9. May 2000–April 2001, KC-10 Instructor Pilot and Readiness Flight Commander, McGuire AFB, N.J.
10. May 2001–December 2002, KC-10 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief, Wing Command Post, McGuire AFB, N.J.
11. January 2003–January 2007, KC-10 Instructor Pilot, McGuire AFB, N.J.
12. February 2007–May 2008, KC-10 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Flight Commander, McGuire AFB, N.J.
13. June 2008–May 2012, KC-10 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, McGuire AFB, N.J.
14. May 2012–June 2013, KC-10 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Operations Officer, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
15. June 2013 – August 2015, Commander, 76th Air Refueling Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
16. August 2015–February 2017, Director, Air Force Crisis Action Team and Air Force Service Watch, Military Deputy Director for Current Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. February 2017–March 2020, Vice Commander, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover ARB, Mass. (February 2018–June 2018 served as Commander, 439th Airlift Wing)
18. March 2020–April 2022, Mobilization Assistant to Director of Plans, Programs, and Analyses, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
19. April 2022–April 2023, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
20. April 2023–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flying Hours: more than 3,800
Aircraft Flown: C-5A/B/C/M, T-38 and KC-10
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
(Current as of April 2023)