Admiral Vern Clark - 4 years retired

"Visionary leaders through the decades have proved crucial to the long-term success of the Navy.

I have worked with (Admiral) Vern (Clark) for four-and-a-half years. He is bold; he is purposeful. He’s also passionate. He’s helped mightily in moving from simple deconfliction to the powerfully leveraged cooperation of truly joint warfare. He has taken on the right fights and been willing to do so for the good of the Navy to be sure -- but also, for the good of the armed forces and for the good of our country. He leaves a stronger and more capable navy to the benefit – the great benefit of the United States of America."

Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
22 July 2005
U.S. Naval Academy