Key Moments
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Richard Clark Keynote Address | 2026 ROTC Commissioning
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Key Moments
A Medal of Honor recipient exemplified integrity, humility, and excellence by sacrificing his life to save his men. His story highlights the profound impact of value-driven leadership, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Key Insights
Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Clark commissioned into the Air Force exactly 40 years prior to the 2026 ROTC ceremony.
Harvard has had 18 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, with Lt. Sherrod Skinner being a prominent example.
Lt. Sherrod Skinner, aged 22, died saving his men by jumping on a grenade during the Korean War on October 26th, 1952.
The three core values discussed are integrity (living honorably), humility (lifting others), and excellence (elevating performance daily).
Lt. Gen. Clark recounts a personal failure in leadership during a deployment in Iraq in 2008, where he prioritized his comfort over his troops.
The choice to lead or not lead is a daily decision, with significant long-term consequences for character and impact.
The profound obligation to uphold the Constitution
Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Clark began by congratulating the graduating ROTC class at Harvard, acknowledging President Garber's leadership and the crucial role of the ROTC program in producing the nation's next leaders. He emphasized that these new officers are about to take an oath of office, a commitment to the U.S. Constitution. Clark highlighted that this oath signifies a dedication to the very fabric of the country, a commitment that has been woven through American history and will continue to shape its future. He shared that his own journey began exactly 40 years prior to this ceremony when he took his oath and graduated from the Air Force Academy. He urged the graduates to savor their service, focusing on the impact they make and the people they touch, as 40 years pass remarkably quickly.
The ultimate sacrifice of Lt. Sherrod Skinner
Clark then delved into Harvard's historical connection with the armed forces, noting that graduates have served in every conflict since the nation's inception, dating back to the first oath of office in 1789. He introduced the inspiring story of Harvard graduate Lt. Sherrod Skinner, who commissioned into the Marine Corps after graduating in 1951 and was deployed to the Korean War in 1952. As an artillery observer, Skinner was tasked with holding a critical outpost on the front lines. When faced with a massive enemy assault and cut off from communication, he and his men fought valiantly. Wounded twice and refusing medical attention, Skinner ultimately sacrificed himself by jumping on an enemy grenade to save his men. This act occurred three days before his 23rd birthday, on October 26th, 1952. A year later, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Three pillars of leadership: integrity, humility, and excellence
Reflecting on Lt. Skinner's actions, Clark identified three core values that must have been ingrained in him: integrity, humility, and excellence. Integrity, he explained, is about aligning one's actions with their morals, ethics, and beliefs – being who you profess to be. Skinner demonstrated this by adhering to his commitment even in the direst circumstances. Humility, Clark clarified, is not thinking less of oneself, but thinking of oneself less, exemplified by Skinner's ultimate sacrifice for his teammates. Excellence, he elaborated, is not necessarily about being the best, but about a continuous drive to elevate performance and improve daily. These values, though potentially innate in Skinner, were undeniably demonstrated through his actions, transforming his character and ultimately his destiny, as illustrated by the quote from Lao Tzu linking thoughts to destiny.
Translating values into daily actions
Clark then translated these abstract values into tangible actions and habits for the new officers. For integrity, the action is to 'live honorably,' doing the right thing even when unobserved and staying true to one's moral compass. Humility, he stressed, translates to 'lift others before yourself,' fostering a team environment where individuals help each other grow and succeed, rather than climbing over others. Excellence is embodied in the habit of 'elevate performance,' maintaining a mindset of daily improvement – being better today than yesterday. These actions – living honorably, lifting others, and elevating performance – are the outward manifestations of a person of character, equipped with integrity, humility, and excellence.
A personal failure of leadership
In a stark contrast to Skinner's example, Clark shared a deeply personal story of his own leadership failure during a year-long deployment to Iraq in 2008. Leading a team of 45 in the Joint Interagency Task Force, he committed to the values of living honorably, lifting others, and elevating performance, even letting his team go on leave before him. However, when his own leave was delayed due to a broken aircraft at Baghdad International Airport, his commitment wavered. He sought comfort in a distinguished visitor lounge, leaving his team uninformed of the prolonged delay, prioritizing his personal convenience over their well-being. This self-serving choice continued through a second aircraft change, only to be confronted by the sight of two flag-draped coffins on the final plane. Sitting behind them, Clark was overwhelmed by shame, realizing he had failed to lead when it mattered most, unable to endure one more day of supporting his people.
The daily choice to lead
This profound experience led Clark to a pivotal realization: 'Never again.' He swore he would never again choose not to lead. He shared this story to emphasize that every individual makes a choice every day – to lead or not to lead. The choices made, whether about attitude or values, have lasting consequences, shaping character and destiny. He presented Lt. Skinner and his own failure as contrasting examples to guide the new officers. Leadership, he stressed, is not confined to military service but is present in all aspects of life. The graduates have already chosen to serve in the armed forces; his charge to them is to choose to lead every day, applying integrity, humility, and excellence in all their interactions and endeavors.
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Common Questions
The ROTC commissioning ceremony is a pivotal event where cadets take an oath of office, committing to uphold the U.S. Constitution and serve in the armed forces, marking their transition into leadership roles.
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Mentioned in this video
The state of origin mentioned for Sherrod Skinner.
The state of residence mentioned for Sherrod Skinner.
The country where Colonel Clark was deployed for a year in 2008.
The airport Colonel Clark departed from during his leave from Iraq.
A transit point for Colonel Clark and his team on their way home from Iraq.
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