LtCol Clark Smith was born and raised in Gallatin, TN. He graduated from the University of Mississippi and was commissioned through the Naval ROTC program in May of 2008. He reported to The Basic School and received the primary MOS as an Infantry Officer, 0302.
Post Infantry Officer Course LtCol Smith received orders to Marine Corps Base Hawaii where he checked into 3d Battalion, 3d Marines. Serving as a rifle platoon commander, he deployed to Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in the spring of 2010. Upon returning from deployment, he joined Weapons Company as the 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander. He then deployed to Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in October of 2011.
In October of 2012, LtCol Smith reported to The Basic School and was assigned as the Primary Instructor for the MOUT package. He was then assigned as a Staff Platoon Commander (SPC) for Delta Co 4-13 and India Co 1-14. Following his time as an SPC he served as the Instructor Education Program (IEP) director before reporting to EWS in August 2015.
Following EWS, LtCol Smith reported to 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and took command of Charlie Company. In 2017 he deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the 31st MEU. After returning from the 31st MEU in April 2018 LtCol Smith became the Operations Officer for 1/1. Following a one-year workup, the Battalion deployed to Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) in Australia. LtCol Smith remained as Operations Officer until January 2020 when he rotated to 1st Marine Regiment.
Following his tour as an Operations Officer, LtCol Smith attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom from the spring of 2020 to the summer 2021. He then attended the Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) from June 2021 to June 2022. LtCol Smith worked as an Operational Planner for Marine Forces Central Command (MARCENT) in the G-5 from June 2022 to June 2024.