Chief Master Sergeant James E. Clark is the Command Chief, Twelfth Air Force (AFSOUTH), Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. He advises the Commander on mission effectiveness, combat readiness, and professional development. As Command Chief of the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command, he supports security cooperation and the provision of air, space, and cyberspace capabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean. AFSOUTH supports U.S. Southern Command to deter aggression, defeat threats, responds to crises’, and works with allies and partner nations to build regional capacity for a secure, free, and prosperous Western Hemisphere.
Chief Clark started his Air Force career in 1994 as a Security Police. In 1998, he assessed and was selected for Pararescue and has held leadership positions from squadron through MAJCOM levels and Joint Special Operations Task Force. Chief Clark has deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM, including a combat jump into Afghanistan. Prior to his current position Chief Clark was the Command Chief, Special Warfare Training Wing, Air Force Air Education and Training Command at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
EDUCATION
1998 Airman Leadership School, Dyess AFB, Texas
1998 Army Special Forces Combat Dive Course, Special Warfare Center and School, Key West, Fla.
1998 Army Airborne Course, Ft. Benning, Ga.
1998 Army Military Free-Fall Course, Special Warfare Center and School, YPG, Ariz.
1999 Special Operations Medic Course, Special Warfare Center and School, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
2001 Static-Line Jumpmaster Course, Combat Control School, Pope AFB, N.C.
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2006 Army Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course, Special Warfare Center and School, NAS Oceana, Va.
2008 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Personnel Recovery, Community College of the Air Force
2010 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Gunter Annex, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Joint SNCO Professional Military Education I, by Correspondence
2015 Joint Special Operations Forces Sr Enlisted Academy, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2015 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Keenan-Flagler Business School, UNC Chapel Hill, N.C.
2016 Summit Course, Joint Special Operations University, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2016 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives, Institute for Defense and Business, San Antonio, Texas
2017 Joint SNCO Professional Military Education II, by Correspondence
2017 Senior Enlisted Legal Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Keystone, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Co.
2021 Space Executive Course, National Space Security Institute, Peterson AFB, Co.
2021 Latin and South America Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates (virtual)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1994 – November 1994, Trainee, Security Police Academy, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. December 1994 – March 1998, Security Police Team Member, 7th Security Police Sq, Dyess AFB, Texas
3. March 1998 – October 1999, Student, Pararescue Training pipeline, various locations
4. October 1999 – July 2003, Special Tactics Team Member, 23rd STS, Hurlburt Field AFB, Fla.
7. July 2003 – May 2010, Team Leader, Flight Chief, and Operations Superintendent, 24th STS, Pope AFB, N.C.
8. May 2010 – February 2012, Pararescue Training Manager, HQ AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas.
9. February 2012 – January 2014, Squadron Superintendent, 24th STS, Pope AAF, N.C.
10. January 2014 – June 2015, Squadron Superintendent, Data Masked
11. June 2015 – June 2016, Group Superintendent, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AAF, N.C.
12. June 2016 – July 2018, Command Chief, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field AFB, Fla.
13. July 2018 – August 2020, Command Chief, Special Warfare Training Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
14. August 2020 – present, Command Chief, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Gallant Unit Citation
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
1997 Peacekeeper Challenge Chiefs Award
1998 Pararescue Indoctrination Course Honor Graduate
2001 Air Force Special Operations Command Pararescueman Noncommissioned of the Year
2001 Air Force Pararescueman NCO of the Year
2006 720th Special Tactics Group Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Chief Master Sergeant December 1, 2010
(Current as of April 2021)