Capt. Robert E. Clark II, selected to be the 84th Commandant of Midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy. U.S. Navy file photo.

As commandant, Clark will be responsible for the military and professional development of the approximately 4,400-member Brigade of Midshipmen.

‘‘I am absolutely thrilled and honored to receive this assignment and look forward to mentoring and developing the future leaders of our great Navy and Marine Corps team,” said Clark.

A resident of West Chester, Pa., and a 2007 inductee into the West Chester East High School Hall of Fame, Clark entered the Naval Academy after attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I. Clark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Science degree in national security affairs from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he received the Naval Institute Award for his thesis work.

Additionally, he completed the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College Seminar course and attended the Armed Forces Staff College. As a result of completing a Joint tour of duty and all formal Joint training requirements, he received the designation of Joint Specialty Officer.

Clark currently commands Submarine Squadron 4 in Groton, Conn. Throughout his career he has served on several fast attack submarines, including having command of USS Connecticut (SSN 22).

His operational experience includes sea tours as the submarine operations officer for Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight, and a period where he served as the deputy undersea warfare commander for the George Washington Battle Group.

Ashore, Clark served in a variety of major staff and joint assignments, including a tour as the special assistant to the Director of Submarine Warfare for Plans, Liaison and Assessments, and most recently as the deputy executive assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Clark will relieve Capt. Matthew Klunder who has been commandant since June 6, 2008. Klunder, a 1982 Naval Academy graduate, was selected for Rear Admiral (lower half) in June 2009.