A conversation between brothers in arms who have known each other since the early 1980s - one an athlete, the other his coach at the time.----more----

SUMMARY

Neither has ventured far from the Air Force or the Academy. Lt. Gen. Richard Clark ’86, the Academy’s 21st superintendent, opens up about his leadership journey to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould ’76, the man who first coached him all those years ago. Gen. Clark’s leadership story is exceptional and Gen. Gould does a masterful job of helping him tell it.

OUR FAVORITE QUOTES

"The one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants, better leaders of character that are ready to go out and win our wars and that are ready to go out support defend the Constitution. That is it."

"Whenever there's Americans on the ground, we're going to do whatever it takes to help them you will do whatever it takes."

"Seeing those young guys go out there and do that, and do what they needed to do to help other Americans to help their fellow servicemen that made me prouder than anything."

"I am very happy and comfortable to leave this torch with them to hand the torch off to them. And I'm just proud to have served with them."

"I am leaving with a lot of gratitude in my heart, just from our cadets from our permanent party, from the alumni that helped us do this and the other supporters."

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CHAPTERS

00:00 :  Introduction and Mission of the Air Force Academy

01:09 :  Lieutenant General Rich Clark's Background and Career

08:27 :  Making the Best of Unexpected Assignments

10:18 :  Leadership in Challenging Situations

00:09 :  Introduction

07:28 :  Enhancing the Academy's Facilities and Programs

14:57 :  Developing Leaders of Character

31:11 :  The Importance of Alumni and Supporters

37:51 :  Transitioning to the Role of Executive Director of the College Football Playoff

45:08 :  Conclusion

TAKEAWAYS

 - Leadership is developed through challenging experiences like overcoming adversity, mentoring others, and leading in high-pressure situations like combat.

 - Support from family, mentors, and sponsor families can help one persevere through difficult times and find purpose.

 - Having an open mind and making the most of unexpected opportunities can lead to unexpected benefits and career success.

 - Giving back to one's alma mater through things like financial support, mentorship, and service helps continue its mission and benefits future generations.

 - Expressing gratitude to those who support your mission helps foster positive relationships and a sense of shared purpose.

LT. GEN. CLARK'S BIO

Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark ’86 is the Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He directs a four-year regimen of military training, academics, athletic and character development programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force or United States Space Force.



Lt. Gen. Clark graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. His commands include the 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, Texas; Eighth Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He has also served as a White House Fellow in Washington, D.C.; the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado; Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, Cairo, Egypt, and as the Commander, Third Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.



Prior to his current assignment, Lt. Gen. Clark served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.

- Copy and image credit:  af.mil

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

OUR SPEAKERS

Our guest is Lt. Gen. Richard Clark ’86  |  Our host is Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould ’76

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  00:12

The one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants, better leaders of character, that are ready to go out and win our wars and that are ready to go out and support and defend the Constitution. That’s it.

Announcer  00:27

Welcome to the Long Blue Leadership podcast. These are powerful conversations with United States Air Force Academy graduates who have lived their lives with distinction. All leaders of character who candidly share their stories, including their best and worst moments, the challenges they've overcome the people and events that have shaped who they are, and who willingly lend their wisdom to advance your leadership journey. Your host for this special presentation of Long Blue Leadership is Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould, USAFA class of ’76 and currently serving as a member of the Association and Foundation board of directors. And now, Gen. Mike Gould.

Lt. Gen Mike Gould  01:09

My guest today is Lt. Gen. Rich Clark, the 21st superintendent of the Air Force Academy, Class of ’86 at USAFA, and if I'm not mistaken, you're about 46 days away from retiring. After a 38-year career, that when you think about it, has spanned so much in our country, starting with the Cold War through conflicts in Southwest Asia, in the Middle East, and the culture wars that we all experience today. I think his experience in active duty is highlighted most by seven commands that he's held; a bomb squadron, a training wing, to numbered Air Force's, the joint functional component command for Global Strike, served as the commandant of cadets here at the Academy. And now like I said, as the 21st superintendent. In addition to that, Gen. Clark served as the senior defense official, and the defense attaché in Cairo during some interesting times, and also served as a White House fellow. And if that's not enough, he's flown over 4,200 hours in the B1, both the EC and KC-135, the T1, the T38, the T6 and the T21. And most notably, 400 of those hours are in combat. So Rich, as you look back on the past nearly four decades of service, I'm sure you have a lot to think about as it's all coming to an end. And really, how it all started. I'd like you to please share with us a little bit about your life as a young child. And you know, some of the influential people who you met in your formative years, and then kind of how that led you here to the Air Force Academy.

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  02:58

Wow, well, first, can I call you Coach, General Gould?

Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  03:02

You (can) call me Coach…

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  03:03

I’ll call you Coach because you were my coach when I was here, and you saw me walk in the doors here. So, I'll talk a little bit about that. But I just want to thank you for letting me be here today. This is a real honor. So, thank you.

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark 

But I grew up in the Bay Area, Oakland, Berkeley, California, and my parents were divorced. So, it was my mother, my brother and I. And then when my mom got remarried, we moved to the East Coast to Richmond, Virginia, and that's where I went to high school, and not a military family. My dad was drafted back in the Vietnam era. He served a short tour, so I don't really remember those days. So, I don't consider myself really from a military family and really hadn't considered joining the military. I played football, I play