STAVANGER, Norway – In his first address to Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) staff since assuming responsibility as the Centre’s Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff on August 30, 2020, U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General Douglas K. Clark discussed the JWC’s mission within NATO and the way ahead, as well as his staff philosophy.
Brigadier General Clark outlined his priorities for enduring success as hard work, clear and concise communications, diversity, and adopting a holistic approach to physical training.
“When I found out that I was appointed to the JWC, I was ecstatic with the opportunity,” said Brigadier General Clark. “I am very excited and humbled to join the Joint Warfare Centre team led by Rear Admiral Kaack. NATO is the greatest alliance in history. And because of the crucial work that you do, NATO is able to train, exercise, and prepare as the Alliance looks to the future.”
In framing his thoughts on JWC’s mission providing the transformational link between Allied Command Operations (ACO) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT), Brigadier General Clark said that “we are fully committed to our collective defence and making NATO better. We train and prepare NATO Forces for operational challenges and ensure their joint warfighting readiness. This provides the collective defence that gives us such a great Alliance as NATO.”
The JWC is relied on as the preeminent establishment of the NATO Alliance for full spectrum warfare at the joint operational level, Brigadier General Clark said.
He added: “There is nothing more important than providing superior training for our warfighters to achieve a more agile and ready NATO Force.”
Brigadier General Clark went on to highlight that “a true warfighter despises war, but we have to have warfighters. That’s why we are here. We exist in order to protect; we exist in order to keep this world safe.”
Brigadier General Clark is the JWC’s first Marine Corps Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff.
He came to the JWC from Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command, in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served as the Marine Detachment Commander.
A native of Hampton, Virginia, Brigadier General Clark graduated from Virginia Tech and received his commission in 1991.
Brigadier General Clark’s combat and contingency deployments include Operation UNITED SHIELD in Somalia (1995), Operation IRAQI FREEDOM with Task Force Tarawa (2003); and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan (2009-2010).
Brigadier General Clark is a graduate of Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Canadian Militia Command and Staff College, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff Distance Education Program, and Amphibious Warfare School Distance Education Program.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential Unit Citation.
Brigadier General Douglas K. Clark’s official biography can be viewed here.
An interview with Brigadier General Clark will be published in the November issue of the JWC’s “The Three Swords” magazine.