Philip Michael Clark Honored for Excellence in Communications

    HARRISBURG, PA, November 10, 2014, Philip Michael Clark, a Strategic Communications and Democracy and Governance Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been recognized for dedication, leadership and excellence in communication and problem solving.

An architectural historian and occasional college English and journalism instructor, Clark has edited four newspapers, published two newspapers, and written editorials syndicated to newspapers in three countries. He spent a brief but colorful period as a city reformer, managed rock bands, and has been a congressional liaison, public-affairs officer, intergovernmental-affairs manager, chief of staff and governance officer at three federal agencies.

Clark led disaster operations across the U.S. with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was a U.S. Department of State governance officer in Iraq and handled intra-embassy relations and promoted clear communication for USAID in Afghanistan. Looking back, he attributes his success to his curiosity and persistence. Clark said he became involved in diplomacy and international development because of long interest in diplomacy, politics, and cultural interaction, his like of being useful, his dislike of being bored and because he wasn't particularly perturbed by being shot at on occasion.

Clark received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Drew University in 1973 and did postgraduate work in humanities at The Pennsylvania State University in 1977. He maintains affiliation with the American Foreign Service Association. Clark was presented with Meritorious Honor Awards in 2014 and 2012, and Meritorious Honor Group Awards in 2012 and 2011, from the Department of State and USAID. He also won a series of awards and congressional commendations during his time with FEMA. In years to come, Clark said he hopes to have done more good than harm while having performed interesting, useful work.

Clark was presented with Meritorious Honor Awards in 2014 and 2012, and Meritorious Honor Group Awards in 2012 and 2011, from the Department of State and USAID.

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