Clark G. Fiester
Encyclopedia
Clark George Fiester was a United States
businessman who served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
from 1993 until his death in a plane crash in 1995.
(B.S.) and Stanford University
(M.S.). He also later studied at the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School
.
In 1957, Fiester joined GTE Government Systems Corp. (which would be acquired by General Dynamics
in 1999), a company that designed and developed information security
, electro-optics
, and automated airport weather station
s. Fiester was associated with GTE Government Systems Corp. for his entire career, eventually becoming a group vice president and general manager.
On November 1, 1993, President of the United States
Bill Clinton
nominated Fiester to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
, and he subsequently held office until his death. Fiester had been a long-time friend of United States Secretary of Defense
William Perry
, the two having met as undergraduates at Penn State.
Fiester died in a plane crash near Alexander City, Alabama
on April 17, 1995. He had been flying on an Air Force Learjet 35 from Andrews Air Force Base to Randolph Air Force Base
when the crash occurred. Also killed in the crash were Colonel Jack Clark II, Fiester's military deputy; Major General Glenn A. Profitt II; and five other members of the Air Force. President Clinton granted a presidential waiver to allow Fiester to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force....
from 1993 until his death in a plane crash in 1995.
Biography
Clark G. Fiester was born on January 25, 1934. He was educated at Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
(B.S.) and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(M.S.). He also later studied at the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
.
In 1957, Fiester joined GTE Government Systems Corp. (which would be acquired by General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
in 1999), a company that designed and developed information security
Information security
Information security means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, perusal, inspection, recording or destruction....
, electro-optics
Electro-optics
Electro-optics is a branch of technology involving components, devices and systems which operate by modification of the optical properties of a material by an electric field...
, and automated airport weather station
Automated airport weather station
Automated airport weather stations are automated sensor suites which are designed to serve aviation and meteorological observing needs for safe and efficient aviation operations and weather forecasting...
s. Fiester was associated with GTE Government Systems Corp. for his entire career, eventually becoming a group vice president and general manager.
On November 1, 1993, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
nominated Fiester to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force....
, and he subsequently held office until his death. Fiester had been a long-time friend of United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
William Perry
William Perry
William James Perry is an American businessman and engineer who was the United States Secretary of Defense from February 3, 1994, to January 23, 1997, under President Bill Clinton...
, the two having met as undergraduates at Penn State.
Fiester died in a plane crash near Alexander City, Alabama
Alexander City, Alabama
Alexander City is the principal city of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and had a combined population of 53,677 at the 2000 census....
on April 17, 1995. He had been flying on an Air Force Learjet 35 from Andrews Air Force Base to Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
when the crash occurred. Also killed in the crash were Colonel Jack Clark II, Fiester's military deputy; Major General Glenn A. Profitt II; and five other members of the Air Force. President Clinton granted a presidential waiver to allow Fiester to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.