FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Charles Clark recalls his first days at Fort Carson's Directorate of Information Management during the mid-1980s.
Most people were still using typewriters and answering telephones -- the ones with actual bells inside. Desktop computer workstations were the newest rage and technology enthusiasts wondered if personal computers might actually make mainframes obsolete.
Meanwhile, Clark was busy thinking ahead. He surmised that if Fort Carson wanted to keep up with the latest automation advances, it would need access to something called "the Internet."
Nearly 30 years later, his 41st in government service, Clark is set to officially retire at the end of April. Leaders with Fort Carson's Network Enterprise Center (NEC) plan to honor him with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award at a ceremony April 23, 2015.
"Clark not only created the documentation to bring the Internet to Fort Carson, he actually brought in the first switches and routers, and built the configuration for the system," said Edward Negron, chief, Information Assurance Policy Branch at the NEC and the person who nominated Clark for the award. "He's had a tremendous impact to the entire installation that really no one knows about. He's the guy behind the scenes who acts as the brain of projects on post."
Nowadays, Clark serves as an information technology specialist, but his role and job title has changed many times over the past 30 years.
As a contract office representative and contract office technical representative he reduced the number of contracts from more than 70 to less than 35 through consolidation or other means, saving the government hundreds of thousands of dollars. As a defense data network regional manager, he was one of the primary pioneers in the development of the Fort Carson computer infrastructure. With little to no guidance, he created all necessary documents in order to acquire and install Fort Carson's first two Class-B Internet networks. This included the first routers, switches, telecommunication hardware and software for the installation's first local area network and nine state service areas.
"Back then, we didn't call it the Internet," he said. "The Arpanet came out of the 1960s and then we had various Milnets, Afnets and Navnets, but what we're talking about is telecommunication lines, point-to-point circuits. It was my job to take those special circuits and extend them out to the customers on the base. That's part of what I did here. It was my job to set it up, program it and manage it."
The funny thing about those times, he explained, was that no one knew what he did.
"My boss didn't even know what I did," he said.
While he was setting up what would become the post's Internet infrastructure, the thought that one day he would be working to keep it secure never crossed his mind.
More than a decade later, however, he fulfilled the role of Directorate of Information Management (DOIM) security manager, where he planned and executed the physical security for the DOIM and seven automated data nodes and remote switching units, to include installing fencing, barriers, lighting and commercial intrusion detection systems. He also developed programs of instruction to educate users so they understood their cybersecurity responsibilities.
"Beyond successfully overseeing the daily operations in an increasingly complex and critical cyber security environment Clark gave his time while under severe demands to personally mentor Soldiers and civilians," Negron said. "He has been an instrumental information assurance leader for the 106th Signal Brigade NEC and the Information Assurance Division, his performance and contributions were a critical factor in us receiving the prestigious NEC of the Year award in 2008, 2010 and 2014, and the Information Assurance of the Year in 2008. When May comes around, we're not sure what we're going to do without him. He's irreplaceable."
Clark and his wife, Ruth, plan to travel right off the bat, first around the U.S. and later to other parts of the world, but he also wants to stay in touch with the NEC, should anyone need assistance in the future.
"I've got too much time invested with this country to simply walk out the door," he said. "Right now we're doing cross training with folks here regarding the different things I do, but the focus of the NEC won't change. We'll continue to provide more value than what's expected."
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