Brig. Gen. Tad D. “TC” Clark is the Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. He commands the only permanently assigned U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft wing in NATO’S Southern Region. With over 5,000 personnel consisting of 4,200 active-duty military members, nearly 300 U.S. civilian employees, and 700 Italian civilian employees, the wing conducts and supports air combat operations and maintains munitions for NATO. The wing’s diverse mission sets are executed by Airmen that fly, maintain and support two F-16 fighter squadrons, two MQ-9 expeditionary attack squadrons, two combat search and rescue squadrons equipped with HH-60 Pavehawks and Guardian Angels (Pararescue, CRO, and TACP Airmen), U.S. Air Forces Europe’s only air control squadron, as well as agile combat support squadrons, medical squadrons and numerous wing staff agencies.
Brig. Gen. Clark received his commission in 1996 from the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned his wings from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Brig. Gen. Clark has served as an F-16 Mission Commander, Instructor Pilot, and Flight Evaluator, led NATO’s largest Link-16 large force exercise comprised of 85 aircraft, and was a member of the 2006-2007 U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds. He has commanded at the squadron and wing levels. Brig. Gen. Clark is a command pilot with over 3,300 flying hours primarily in the T-37, T-38, AT-38 and F-16. He flew 118 missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with multiple expeditionary fighter squadrons culminating in more than 600 combat hours in the F-16.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Clark was the Director of Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2001 Master of Business Administration, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas
2005 Tactical Leadership Programme, Florennes Air Base, Belgium
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Master of Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2014 Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Theater Operations Course, San Antonio, Texas
2018 Senior Leader Nuclear Management Course, USAF Nuclear College, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2019 Senior Executive Education, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2021 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2022 Senior Leadership Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 Capstone, Executive Development Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2025 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1997–February 1998, Student Pilot, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. March 1998–April 2001, T-37 First Assignment Instructor Pilot, Check Section Pilot, 89th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. May 2001–June 2001, AT-38 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 88th FTS, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. July 2001–April 2002, F-16 Basic Course, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. May 2002–June 2002, F-16 Night Systems Course, 310th FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
6. July 2002–July 2003, F-16 Flight Lead, Chief of Life Support, Chief of Safety, 35th FS, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
7. August 2003–October 2005, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Chief of Scheduling, 22nd FS, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
8. November 2005–December 2007, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. January 2008–June 2009, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, and F-16 Adversary Tactics Pilot, Infrared Missile Expert, 64th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. July 2009–July 2010, Graduate Student, National Intelligence University, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
11. August 2010–March 2012, Division Chief, Senior Leader Management, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
12. April 2012–April 2013, Commander, 451st Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Kandahar, Afghanistan
13. July 2013–June 2014, Graduate Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2014–May 2017, Joint Staff Officer, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany
15. June 2017–May 2019, Deputy ​Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
16. May 2019–June 2020, Commander, 8th FW, Kunsan AB, South Korea
17. July 2020–July 2021, Senior Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. July 2021–July 2022, Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2022–present, Commander, 31st FW, Aviano AB, Italy
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2014–June 2015, Command Electronic Warfare Officer and Chief, Joint Cyber Center (J39), U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2015–June 2016, Deputy Division Chief, Information and Cyberspace Operations (J39), USAFRICOM, Stuttgart, Germany, as a lieutenant colonel
3. July 2016–May 2017, Senior Executive Officer, Deputy Commander, USAFRICOM, Stuttgart, Germany, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,300 including more than 600 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16, MiG-29, EA-18G and HH-60
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Action Medal
NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 PACAF Fighter Wing of the Year - 8th Fighter Wing
2020 Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Samil Medal
2024 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award Finalist - 31st Fighter Wing
2024 Bulgarian Presidential Medal of Honor
2024 USAFE-AFAFRICA General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award (Wing Commander and spouse)
(Current as of March 2025)