Admiral Vern Clark | Retired Chief of Naval Operations of the United States Navy | The Power of Covenant Leadership

 

Admiral Vernon Eugene Clark is a retired four-star admiral who served as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the United States Navy. He retired on July 22, 2005, making his tenure of five years the second-longest serving CNO behind Arleigh Burke. Admiral Clark has received numerous military decorations for his service, including four awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three Navy Distinguished Medals, and three awards of the Legion of Merit. Since his retirement, he has been honored with the Eisenhower Award from the Business Executives of North America, the Distinguished Sea Service Award from the Naval Order of the United States, and the Distinguished Service Medal of the Military Order of the World Wars. 

Admiral Vern Clark earned his undergraduate degree from Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri, and later completed an MBA at the University of Arkansas. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Toledo, Old Dominion University, Northwest University, and Palm Beach Atlantic University. 

This week on The Wow Factor podcast, Admiral Vern Clark shares key lessons from his distinguished career in the U.S. Navy. He discusses his commitment to covenant leadership—what it means and how he aimed to live it out in practice. Admiral Clark also breaks down the five priorities he focused on as Chief of Naval Operations: manpower, current readiness, future readiness, quality of service, and alignment—and explains how those priorities shaped his decisions and leadership approach. 

“I was raised in a home where we constantly heard about God's plan for our life - and that really framed my background in a very important way..” - Admiral Vern Clark 

“Our actions are screaming so loud, they can't hear a word we say, so if we're not living it and walking it, it doesn't matter what all the words are.” -  Admiral Vern Clark 

Leadership is a position of servanthood. First, we say—or do we say this last—we can go through anything because Jesus goes before us. - Admiral Vern Clark 

This Week on The Wow Factor: 

• Admiral Vern’s experience of growing up the son of a Pastor in the central section of the USA  

• His early experiences of leadership, including on a kids baseball team 

• The experience of gaining an MBA at the University of Arkansas against the backdrop of the Vietnam war 

• How he came to find his life’s path as a Commissioned Officer in the US Navy and why he was convinced he would be staying in for only three years only 

• What convinced Admiral Vern to rejoin the Navy and the career that followed 

• Why he believes that leadership is a two-way relationship 

• Resources that Admiral Vern has used in his commitment to being a lifelong learner 

• The questions that the term ‘heart of covenant’ bring up  

• How Admiral Vern’s strong faith has helped him in his role as a leader 

Admiral Vern Clark’s Word of Wisdom: 

Having a strategic communications plan that moves you forward as a team or organization is vital. 

Connect with Admiral Vern Clark:  

• Any questions for Admiral Clark can be sent to Brad 

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