[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ADMIRAL VERN CLARK

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor ADM 
Vern Clark, U.S. Navy, our 27th Chief of Naval Operations, who last 
week turned over the helm of the U.S. Navy to his successor. As former 
Secretary of the Navy and a member of the Armed Services Committee for 
27 years, I have worked closely with every Chief of Naval Operations 
since Admiral Clark was Ensign Clark.
  A child of the Midwest, Admiral Clark is a graduate of Evangel 
College and holds a master's degree in business administration from the 
University of Arkansas. It is this Nation's great fortune that Admiral 
Clark heard the call of the sea and attended Officer's Candidate 
School, receiving his commission in August 1968.
  His first sea duty tour was aboard USS John W. Weeks, DD 701. One of 
the first things Admiral Clark did upon assuming his present post was 
to obtain the picture that formally hung in the wardroom of USS John W. 
Weeks to remind him of where he came from and to keep his focus on the 
fleet.
  Admiral Clark has had the good fortune to spend more than half of his 
career in command. The Navy recognized early on his potential for 
leadership when as a lieutenant he commanded USS Grand Rapids, PG98. He 
would go on command USS McCloy, FF 1038, USS Spruance, DD 963, the 
Fleet Anti-Submarine Training Center Atlantic, Destroyer Squadron One 
Seven, Destroyer Squadron Five, Cruiser Destroyer Group Three, Second 
Fleet, and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
  On those rare occasions when Admiral Clark was not in command, he 
served in a series of increasingly challenging shore assignments. He 
completed assignments as the Special Assistant to the Director of the 
Systems Analysis Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval 
Operations, the Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval 
Operations, Surface Warfare, and as the Administrative Aide to the Vice 
Chief of Naval Operations. He served as head of the Cruiser-Destroyer 
Combat Systems Requirements Section and Force Anti-Submarine Warfare 
Officer for the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, 
and he directed the Joint Staff's Crisis Action Team for Desert Shield 
and Desert Storm.
  Admiral Clark first hoisted his flag aboard the U.S. Transportation 
Command where he was Director of both Plans and Policy, J5 and 
Financial Management and Analysis, J8. While commanding the Carl Vinson 
Battle Group, he deployed to the Arabian Gulf and later served as the 
Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. Admiral Clark has 
also served as the Deputy and Chief of Staff, United States Atlantic 
Fleet; the Director of Operations, J3 and subsequently Director of the 
Joint Staff.
  Admiral Clark assumed his duties in peacetime on July 21, 2000. 
Sitting in his office on September 11, 2001, war came to Admiral 
Clark's Navy when American Airlines flight 77 hit the Pentagon just a 
few yards from where he was sitting. Since that day he has skillfully 
led the Navy in the global war against terrorism. Throughout this time, 
he has continued to focus on his top five priorities manpower, current 
readiness, future readiness, quality of service and alignment. Chief 
among those priorities is manpower. Admiral Clark is fond of saying 
that the Navy is winning the war for people. That is due in no small 
part to his leadership during this difficult time.
  Standing beside this officer throughout his superb career has been 
his wife Connie, a woman to whom he owes much. She has been his key 
supporter, devoting her life to her husband, to her family, and to the 
men and women of the Navy family. She has traveled by his side for 
these many years visiting the fleet. Her sacrifice and devotion have 
served as an example and inspiration for others. This team has served 
our Navy well and we will miss them both.
  With these words before the Senate, I seek to recognize Admiral Clark 
for his unswerving loyalty to the Navy and this great Nation. We thank 
him and wish Vern, his wife Connie, and his sons Jeffery and 
Christopher fair winds and following seas as they continue forward in 
what will most assuredly remain lives of service to our country.

                          ____________________