Colonel Michael A. Clarke (USAF, Retired) graduated in the second class from the United States Air Force Academy in 1960. After graduating and completing pilot training, he served as an F-100 pilot for 3 years at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB) in New Mexico. While at Cannon AFB, he served back-to back combat tours in South East Asia in a TDY status. Returning from South East Asia, he then went to Luke AFB to serve as an F-100 pilot instructor. In 1967, he attended the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edward AFB.  Upon graduation, Colonel Clarke was assigned to Kirtland AFB where he served 2 years as a test pilot before attending the Air Command and Staff College.  He was assigned to the F-5E Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB shortly afterwards.  In 1975, he returned to South East Asia as a Planned Officer.  Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned to the F-16 Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB until 1978, where he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF).  He then was assigned to the Pentagon for 5 years, retiring from military service in 1984.  From 1984 to 1994, he served as a consultant, advising foreign and domestic firms on how to implement best business practices with the United States Government. In 1994, Clarke joined the National Research Council of the National Academies as a Senior Program Officer and a Deputy Board Director until 2003, when he was appointed to his current role as the Board Director for the Air Force Studies Board (AFSB). After serving 8 years with the AFSB as its Board Director and 17 years at the National Research Council (NRC), Colonel Clarke reverted to the position of AFSB’s Deputy Director on October 10, 2011.