Aaron J. Clark, Colonel USAF Retired

Colonel Aaron J. Clark (age 57), Air Force, Retired (October 1, 1986 – October 31, 2016) died of cancer on July 9, 2021 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, passing peacefully with his children by his side.

Aaron was born January 15, 1964 in Gouverneur, NY to John and Marlene Clark, and grew up on the family’s small subsistence farm in Pitcairn, where he learned his life-long self-sufficient attitude and hands-on approach to solving problems. He attended Clarkson University and was a member of its Air Force ROTC detachment; in 1986, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. As an officer in the military, Aaron furthered his formal education with a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management.

Colonel Clark was a career acquisition officer, beginning with his first assignment as an acquisition program manager with the Electronic Systems Division at Hanscom AFB, MA. Throughout his career, he served in a variety of leadership and staff positions developing, testing, modifying, fielding, and sustaining complex command, control, and communications systems; fighter aircraft; and conventional weapons. Colonel Clark had broad acquisition experience working with the Nation’s Services and Allies, leading research and development activities at three Air Force Product Centers, wholesale logistics and depot-level aircraft maintenance at two Air Logistics Centers, and three tours in the Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Aaron’s final position in the Air Force was as the Deputy Director of Global Power Programs, and he retired from the Air Force having served honorably for 30 years.

After retiring from the Air Force, Aaron entered civil service as a Deputy Assistant Director in the Department of Homeland Security, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, where his previously developed skill sets and knowledge base were great assets to the organization. One of Aaron’s priorities throughout his career was to provide others with encouragement, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, which he emphasized during his last position.

Aaron was his family’s first engineer – a fitting role, given that the word ‘engineer’ is derived from the Latin words ingeniare, meaning ‘to create, generate, contrive, devise,’ and ingenium, ‘cleverness.’ He always enjoyed discovering how things worked and shared this trait with his children, be it through house and vehicle repair or his life-long passion of model rocketry. Aaron also introduced hundreds of middle school students to critical thinking and problem-solving STEM skills through the rocketry club he initiated and led.

In addition to model rocketry, Aaron enjoyed working on his classic cars, touring back roads on his motorcycle, bicycling, traveling, making up outrageous ‘dad dances,’ but most of all, spending time with his loved ones. Aaron is survived by his devoted partner, Claudia Knize; his children, Jim and Megan, whom he shared with former spouse, Mary Jo; his mother, Marlene, and his siblings, George (Tawnya) Clark, Nora (Les) Mammen, Joel (Amy) Clark, and Cynthia (Dan) Lawrence; and numerous extended family members. He is preceded in death by his father, John.

Aaron will be laid to rest with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, March 20, 2023 at 9:00am, with a reception brunch to follow at Patton Hall Community Club and Conference Center, 2nd Floor, Ft. Myer, VA 22211.

In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully suggests any donations in Aaron's memory be made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, or by giving blood through the Red Cross.