Sergeant Major Clarke was born on 25 September 1979 in Miami, FL. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 28 January 2004 and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. He was a Mike Company Honor Graduate and meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal. He completed Basic Supply Administration at Course at Camp Johnson, NC, receiving the military occupational specialty of 3043.
In August 2004, Sergeant Major Clarke reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 in Okinawa, Japan. In December 2004, he conducted Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations for Joint Task Force 535, Philippines. He was meritoriously promoted to Corporal in March 2005 and was promoted to Sergeant in January 2006. He was selected to the Marine Corps Shooting Team, Weapons Field Training Battalion, Quantico, VA and was a member of the National Champion Marine Corps Pistol Team; ranking within the "President's 100."
In August 2006, he began his assignment with 1st Maintenance Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA. In January 2008, Sergeant Major Clarke volunteered for and reported to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. He served in Bravo Company; 1st Recruit Training Battalion and was the MCRD San Diego Drill Instructor of the Quarter and graduated four Honor Platoons. Sergeant Major Clarke was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant in July 2009. In February 2010, Sergeant Major Clarke reported to Edson Range, Camp Pendleton, CA, charged with leading Alpha Range and as a shooter for the MCRD Shooting Team at the National Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio.
In February 2011, Sergeant Major Clarke reported to Headquarters Battery, 11th Marine Regiment. He volunteered to be temporarily assigned to 2d Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment for deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. During Operation Enduring Freedom 11.2, he served as the Battery Operations & Intelligence Chief for the Area of Operations Belleau Wood provisional infantry mission. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant through accelerated promotion in June 2012 and served as the Battery Master Sergeant, Headquarters Battery, 11th Marine Regiment.
In November 2012, Sergeant Major Clarke volunteered to serve at Navy Officer Candidate School, Officer Training Command, Newport, R.I. He served as a Drill Instructor and the Drill Master for Officer Training Command Newport and the Naval War College. He was selected to First Sergeant in December 2015.
In April 2016, Sergeant Major Clarke reported to 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment. He initially began his tour with Battery Q, and in 2017, served with 3d Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment during the Forward Deployed Force program in South Korea, and at Camp Fuji, Okinawa, and Yausubetsu, Japan. He completed the last year of his tour as the Headquarters Battery First Sergeant.
In May 2019, Sergeant Major Clarke reported to 1st Marine Logistics Group. He served as the Headquarters Company First Sergeant, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, and Director for 1st Marine Logistics Group Enlisted Schools. In August 2020, Sergeant Major Clarke reported to Combat Logistics Battalion 1 and volunteered to serve as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Logistics Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command. He led 191 service members in Operation Allies Refuge on the ground within Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, evacuating more than 120,000 Americans out of Afghanistan. In November 2021, he checked-in to 1st Landing Support Battalion and served as the Headquarters Company First Sergeant. In October 2022, he was selected to Sergeant Major.
On 8 November 2022, Sergeant Major Clarke reported for duty as the Squadron Sergeant Major of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. He completed a deployment from April to November 2024 as the Aviation Combat Element Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Boxer in the Pacific Ocean. He currently serves aboard Marine Corps Air-Station Miramar, CA, and has been approved for retirement from active-duty on 31 March 2026.
Sergeant Major Clarke has earned the distinction of Honor Graduate at six formal schools. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland University College, graduating Summa Cum Laude (4.0). In May 2019, he graduated the USMC Command and Staff College as a Distinguished Graduate. On 9 December 2022, he graduated with a Master of Science in Education; with a concentration in Adult Education from Auburn University Graduate School (4.0). He will begin his journey as a student of the University of Southern California's Global Executive Doctor of Education program in 2026.
Sergeant Major Clarke's personal decorations include the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 gold stars in lieu of fifth award), the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (1 gold star in lieu of second award), Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (1 silver and 1 bronze star in lieu of seventh award), the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (1 bronze star in lieu of second award), and the Drill Instructor Ribbon (1 bronze star in lieu of second award).