George Charles Clark
George Charles Clark
Years of Service:
31
Highest Rank:
O-6
Medals & Awards:
Distinguished Flying Cross 2
Bronze Star Medal 1
Meritorious Service Medal 2
Air Medal 16
Air Force Commendation Medal 1
Career Highlights:
COLONEL GEORGE CHARLES CLARK
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959 | Cadet Squadron 11
A proud Texan from Corpus Christi, George Charles Clark arrived at the Air Force Academy via the New Mexico Military Institute. As a member of the "First Class," he helped define the culture of CS-11. His peers in the 1959 Polaris remembered him as a steady, even-tempered leader who balanced his passion for flight with excellence in gymnastics and football. George’s lifelong ambition was simple but bold: to fly jets.
A CAREER OF COMBAT AND COMMAND
After graduation, George earned his wings at Moore and Craig Air Force Bases. His early career took him to the cockpit of the Air Force's heavy hitters, flying for the 301st Air Refueling Squadron at Barksdale and the 77th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth.
However, it was his service in the late 1960s that defined his legacy as a combat pilot. Flying the B-57 Canberra with the 8th and 13th Tactical Bomb Squadrons out of Clark Air Base, George flew under some of the most demanding conditions of the Vietnam War. His bravery and skill in the cockpit were recognized with two Distinguished Flying Crosses and an incredible 16 Air Medals.
Following his combat tours, George transitioned into the technical and logistical backbone of the Air Force. He earned an MS in Engineering Administration from SMU and returned to his roots at the USAFA as Director of Engineering (DCS Civil Engineering) from 1969 to 1972. His later career saw him in high-stakes leadership roles, including Vice Commander of the 834th Airlift Division at Hickam AFB and a stint at the Pentagon as the Air Force Project Manager for Installations and Economic Adjustment.
LIFE AFTER THE UNIFORM
Colonel Clark retired from the Air Force as a highly decorated O-6, but his service to education and infrastructure didn't end there. For a decade (1986–1996), he served as the Director of Physical Plant at Eastfield College in Dallas, Texas, applying his vast engineering and management expertise to the civilian sector.
SERVICE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
• Distinguished Flying Cross (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Bronze Star Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Air Medal (with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Air Force Commendation Medal
