The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Announces Former U.S. Marshals' Director John F. Clark as New President and CEO
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- John F. Clark, former director of the United States Marshals Service and longtime child advocate, has been appointed the new president and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
After an extensive nationwide search, NCMEC's Board of Directors unanimously chose Clark to lead the nonprofit organization, which was designated by Congress in 1984 to work in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice on issues related to missing and exploited children. He's taking the helm of the Alexandria-based organization today.
"We're delighted that John Clark has agreed to take over as our leader," said Patty Wetterling, chair of NCMEC's board. "John has been a loyal supporter of NCMEC for many years and carries our mission in his heart."
Clark, whose career with the USMS spanned 28 years, was appointed in 2006 as its ninth director by then-President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate. In 2011, Clark joined Lockheed Martin Corp. as its director of security, where he managed a $24 million budget and led a workforce of 250 professionals for the nation's largest defense contractor.
As director of the U.S. Marshals Service, Clark oversaw the daily operation of 94 district offices, 218 sub-offices, three foreign field offices and seven regional fugitive task force offices. He managed a $2.5 billion budget and led a diversified workforce of 5,500 employees.
Clark implemented and administered Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Safety and Protection Act, which directed the USMS to locate and apprehend fugitive sex offenders. He also oversaw the implementation and operation of the National Sex Offender Targeting Center. He forged strong relationships with law enforcement leaders at the federal, state and local levels and served on many boards, including NCMEC's.
"John Clark's credibility and hands-on experience is outstanding," said John and Revé Walsh, co-founders of NCMEC. "His fight to protect children is well known. It's a perfect match."
Among the many awards Clark has received is the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Federal Bar Association in recognition of superior service in protecting members of the judicial branch. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association honored him as "Federal Law Enforcement Director of the Year" for his superior leadership of the USMS.
Before joining the USMS, Clark worked for the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Border Patrol. He earned a bachelor's of science degree from Syracuse University.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with law enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them on issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children. Authorized by Congress to serve as the nation's clearinghouse on these issues, NCMEC operates a hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 215,000 children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting child pornography, child sex trafficking and other forms of child sexual exploitation. Since the CyberTipline launched in 1998, more than 6.6 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been received, and since the NCMEC's Child Victim Identification Program was created in 2002 more than 153 million suspected child pornography images have been reviewed and analyzed. NCMEC works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, visit Missingkids.org. Follow NCMEC on Twitter and like NCMEC on Facebook.
SOURCE The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
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