Robert Clement

Capt. Robert H. Clement
National President
Office: (877) 410-1929 Ext. 2
Email: President@AlphaEtaRho.org

BIOGRAPHY

Captain Bob Clement, USN (Ret.) attended Parks College of St. Louis University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics in July 1973.  During his freshman year at Parks, Captain Clement was the National Treasurer for the NIFA Nationals held at Parks College in spring of 1969.  He pledged Alpha Eta Rho in the fall of 1968.  During his years at Parks, Bob was Special Assistant to Professor Harold S. Wood, Executive Director of Alpha Eta Rho and the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA).  Bob has been actively involved at both a local and national level with both organizations for the past 42 years.

Following graduation, he reported to Naval Aviation Schools Command, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida in August of 1973 and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy in December 1973.  Following flight training in the T-34B, T-2C "Buckeye", and TA-4J "Skyhawk", Bob received his wings of gold in December of 1974 at NAS Chase Field, Texas.

Captain Clement reported to VF-124 in December 1974 to commence training with the initial cadre of Ensigns assigned to F-14A Tomcat fleet transition and introduction.  Upon completing training, Bob reported to Fighter Squadron 211 (VF-211) in January 1976, completing the squadron's transition from F-8's to the F-14A Tomcat.  During his tour he deployed three times in USS Constellation (CV-64) to the Western Pacific/Indian Oceans.  In July 1979, Captain Clement was assigned to Commander, Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet in the Operation Schedules and Maintenance Readiness Departments, flying with the VF-126 “Bandits” as an Adversary pilot.

In 1980 Bob left the U.S. Navy to assume the duties of Chief Pilot at Critical Air Medicine and Executive Air Services in San Diego, California.  The companies flew numerous executive twins and light jets in support of medical trauma evacuations and on demand Part 135 operations.  Looking at the continuing drought in the major airline hiring, Bob elected to return to the Navy and complete his career.

Upon his return to the U.S. Navy, Bob was assigned to USS Ranger (CV-61) in April of 1982. Captain Clement deployed twice to the Western Pacific/Indian Oceans as Flight Deck Officer and Aircraft Handling Officer, while flying the C-1 “Trader”.  His next assignment was as an Adversary Pilot attached to VF-126 from February 1984 to January 1986.   During the early winter of 1985, Bob attended the Naval Postgraduate School, graduating in March of 1985 from the Naval Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation Program.  During his Naval career, Bob was Senior Investigator on numerous major and minor aviation accidents.  In July of 1985 Captain Clement graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS) "TOP GUN".  During his tenure at NFWS, Bob was assigned as escort officer for the actors Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards during the filming of the movie “TOP GUN” in June of 1985.   He reported as Maintenance Officer for the commissioning of Fighter Squadron 194 in July of 1986, flying the F-14A "Tomcat".  Operational commitments allowed Captain Clement to deploy with VF-1 in August of 1986 in USS RANGER (CV-61) to the Western/Northern Pacific Oceans.  Following his return, Captain Clement reported as Maintenance Officer, VF-21 in USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) in December of 1986.  During his tour with Fighter Squadron 2l, Captain Clement participated in Operations Earnest Will / Reef Point in the Indian Ocean/North Arabian Sea during the summer of 1987.  In August of 1987 Captain Clement was involved in air to air combat operations in support of these missions.  These operations conducted by Carrier AirWing 14 were in combat support of the reflagging of Kuwait oil tanker shipments. 

Assigned to Naval Air Force U. S. Pacific Fleet Operations Readiness Department in September 1988, Bob served as Fleet Flight Hour Program Budget Officer responsible for the execution of 2.8 billion dollars in resources.  During this tour of duty Captain Clement served as Senior Test Pilot for the Naval Aviation Maintenance Depot NAS North Island, California flying operational tests flights on the F-14A.

Captain Clement reported to Fighter Squadron 111 as Executive Officer on November 14, 1990.  He assumed Command of VF-111 on 13 February 1992.  During his tenure the VF-11 "Sundowners" where part of Carrier AirWing 15 embarked in USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63).

In May of 1993, Captain Clement was selected for duty as Chief of Operational Plans, Fifth Allied Tactical Air Force (5th ATAF) in Vicenza, Italy.  He reported for duty with NATO in support of operations "Deny Flight" and "Provide Promise".  During his tour as Chief of Plans, Captain Clement flew humanitarian missions into Sarajevo and combat air patrol in the FA-18D in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Captain Clement reported for duty as Chief of Staff, Commander Naval Training Center, San Diego, California in March, 1994 and retired from active duty in the spring of 1996.

Upon retiring, Bob was hired by Federal Express in March of 1996.  He has enjoyed over 14 years of flying with FedEx Express and is currently a Captain on the MD-11/MD-10 flying both International and domestic routes.  Bob is a member of ALPA, and currently serves on the ALPA Safety Committee and is a member of their accident investigation “Go Team” at FedEx.

Captain Clement graduated with a Masters in Commercial Aviation from Delta State University in 2008.

Highlight of his career has been the 42 years of volunteer service to Alpha Eta Rho and the NIFA.  After holding numerous jobs in support of these organizations, Bob was elected the National President of Alpha Eta Rho and the NIFA Foundation in May 2008.

Bob has accumulated over 12,000 career flight hours including 2800 in Navy tactical jets and over 730 carrier landings.  He has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Valor and Gold Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy "E" Ribbon (2 awards), Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (5 awards).