Raised in Hampton, Virginia, Major General Douglas K. Clark graduated from Virginia Tech in 1990 and received his commission in 1991. His infantry career started with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment during which he participated in Operation PEACEMAKER (Los Angeles Riots-1992); the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable (MEU-SOC); and 13th MEU-SOC, including Western Pacific deployment in support of the United Nations in Operation UNITED SHIELD (Somalia- 1995). He was then assigned to the Amphibious Reconnaissance School, Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (1995-1998) and the 4th Supply Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group (1998-1999).
Following his assignment as Platoon Commander in Company D of 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion, Major General Clark commanded Company C, 4th LAR Bn (2001-2004) deploying in 2003 to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM with Task Force Tarawa. His company then redeployed to Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, in Okinawa, Japan. His following assignments included U.S. Joint Forces Command (2004-2005); executive officer of 4th LAR Bn (2005-2006); U.S. Marine Forces Command (2006-2007) and command of 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment (2007-2009).
Major General Clark served as the Pakistan Planner and Civil-Military Planner for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander in Kabul, Afghanistan (2009-2010) for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He was then assigned as the Washington liaison for U.S. Central Command (2010-2012). He completed multiple tours in Headquarters Marine Corps as lead Force Structure Planner for the Quadrennial Defense Review Integration Group (2012-2014), Branch Head in Programs and Resources (2014-2015) and Deputy Chief of Expeditionary Policy and Assistant Director of Operations in Plans, Policy, and Operations (2015-2017). He then served as Marine Detachment Commander in the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command (2017-2020) in Norfolk, Virginia. He then became the first Marine to serve as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway (2020-2022). He commanded the 4th Marine Division (2022-2024) and posted as the UNC/CFC/USFK Director of Plans, Policy, and Strategy on 10 June 2024.
Major General Clark assumed his present duties as Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps Forces South on 1 Aug 2025.
Major General Clark is a graduate of Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Canadian Militia Command and Staff College, USMC Command and Staff Distance Education Program, and Amphibious Warfare School Distance Education Program. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential Unit Citation.