Last two years most memorable in the Army - Chief of Staff - Clark C. Hall retires - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, July-August, 2001

Col. Clark C. Hall almost left the Army two years ago. The job offer from industry was good--and after all, he had been in the Army 28 years. Hall decided to stay put.

"I'm certainly glad I didn't leave," said Hall, 51.

A few months later, the Military Traffic Management Command's new incoming Commander, Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, asked Hall to serve as Chief of Staff.

Hall took over July 9, 1999. What followed, he says, was "a great ride for MTMC and me personally."

"The pace never dipped below MACH 1--and occasionally stretched into the stratosphere," said Hall.

No wonder.

Far more than managing MTMC Headquarters staff, Hall managed such pivotal initiatives as the command's reorganization and its strategic plan.

"I have learned more than I thought I'd ever know," said Hall of his 22 months of duty at MTMC Headquarters.

Hall's initial command guidance was a four-page, single-spaced e-mail from Privratsky.

"In it were things he wanted me to look at," said Hall. "It was a template for starting."

At the same time, Hall said he was encouraged to bring in a lot of his own ideas.

With two previous tours in MTMC, Hall was well acquainted with the command. Earlier, he had served as Chief of the Terminals Division, International Traffic, at MTMC Headquarters, and in 1989-1991 as Commander of the Southern California Outport, now closed.

For this tour, Hall says there were some overriding simple goals: Reduce MTMC's rates, develop a Strategic Plan and take care of MTMC employees while doing it.

"We focused on one of the key drivers of rates--costs," said Hall. "We made cost a consideration of planning. We wanted to do what industry was doing."

The results paid off.

With reduced costs, MTMC cut its freight rates to customers in both fiscal years 2001 and 2002.

More about the future?

The gradual transition of the Deployment Support Command Headquarters into MTMC's Operations Center in the next two years is a critical and positive move, said Hall.

"This is very important," said Hall. "The operation at Fort Eustis will shift to the center of gravity for worldwide operations. "It will streamline operations, eliminate redundancy and provide better service to our customers."

Like a modern-day Moses, Hall will not be there to see it. He retired for good May 30th on the parade ground at Fort Eustis (see sidebar, next page), where he served as the Commander of Troops at his last military formation.

While it is goodbye to wearing an Army uniform, Hall is not saying goodbye to military transportation.

After a family vacation in Europe, Hall will begin work in the newly developed position of Director of Government Marketing for CRST International, a giant Cedar Rapids, Iowa, trucking firm.

Initially, at least, he will be telecommuting from an office in his home. And he expects the office staff of one--himself--to grow.

Hall will be developing military and government transportation for his new employer.

So, he said, expect to see him at such events as the MTMC Training Symposium and National Defense Transportation Association events.

After all, he is only exchanging Army green for executive gray.