There are only four African-American General Officers in the United States Marine Corps and Brigadier General Clifford L. Stanley is one of them. As Director of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., he is the Corps' information chief and serves as the principal advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps on Public Affairs. Brig. Gen. Stanley is responsible for helping devise policy matters related to public understanding and support of the Marine Corps. He also has the task of coordinating public affairs programs and activities with a Corps-wide impact in conjunction with the Asst. Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and the Navy's Chief of Information. 

Brig. Gen. Stanley is a Washington, D.C. native with nearly 29 years of experience in the Corps. He received his commission in 1969 after graduating from South Carolina State University. His formal education also includes a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University along with specialized military educational training at the Amphibious Warfare School, the Naval War College, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He has maintained a secondary military occupational specialty of parachutist while previously serving in many command positions domestically and abroad. Numerous personal decorations have been awarded to him including the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal. 

TBC-What are some of your values or traits that have contributed to your career success? 

Stanley- I think probably at the top would be perseverance and hard work. I have to honestly say integrity and a very strong moral foundation were important because my family raised us in the church. That I think gave me the perseverance part in the beginning of my life. I saw many examples of success mostly around the church, and they weren't always associated with glamorous jobs. Just because a person happened to be a cook, hairdresser or custodian made no difference. We were taught a long time ago to respect people and so that became sort of the foundation that helped my brother and me, and that's just our family. 

TBC-What are the key milestones or turning points and challenges you've faced in your 
distinguished military career that got you to the position of Brigadier General? 

Stanley-The first milestone was South Carolina State. There was a nurturing environment 
where everybody was literally a part of the growing process; every teacher, administrator, and even the people who worked in the dining hall were a part of your success. You just knew it and felt it. I was the junior class president and the student body president.  I was a campus leader working in the choir and things like that, so I was very active there. 

When I left this predominately Black environment, I was very comfortable going into an almost white environment in the Marine Corps. The fact that I was nurtured in an environment where people really cared about me, entering the Marine Corps when racial turmoil was really tough, wasn't even a wrinkle. The things I focused on were being successful by studying and working hard. Even though there may have been some people who were naysayers, they didn't count. And, quite frankly after a couple of tests and other challenges, I said I can do this. That became a turning point. 

I'd say the next significant hump came when my wife was a victim of a racial attack. She was shot by a sniper and was paralyzed. My uncle was killed, and he was also a college graduate from my school, That was the turning point where I thought I was going to have to cash it all in and at least move to something a little more stable.  My wife encouraged me to stay and we prayed on it. The Marine Corps actually worked overtime to keep me in. Again, the same environment you'd think would've been hostile reached out and grabbed me. I'm talking about the Commandant in charge sending me personal cards and the people who work in the bureaucracy calling me saying you can go to these types of duty stations if they meet your needs. Although I didn't have to do that, the fact that they were willing to extend what I call the right hand of fellowship really made a big difference in my life and my decision to stay in the Marine Corps. 

TBC-Racism is still a fact of life in mainstream America. As such, how does the Marine Corps deal with it? How have you handled your own personal experiences with racism in the military? 

Stanley-Racism is there and you hurt to see it, because that doesn't fit with any moral code that I could ever identify with. I've dealt with it on a personal level practically. In the Marine Corps we do have a thing called rank so it just doesn't fit. Our Corps as an institution has core values of courage, honor and commitment. So this whole notion of racism really doesn't fit. We don't have a smooth road, but the commitment of the institution's leadership is there to stamp it out. 

TBC-A major concern of many African-American college students considering a military career is the perceived loss of their cultural identity. Is this a legitimate concern from your perspective? 

Stanley-I definitely don't see that. When I joined some of us even wore Afros. There's a culture about being a Marine itself. That is the same wherever you go in life. I don't think anyone can remain successful if they forget who they are. The people who have forgotten about who they are may have gotten up the ranks a little bit, but they didn't get very far or stay very long because when you live around people you can tell a phony; you can just see it. 

TBC-What happens in the Marine Corps on the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday? 

Stanley-We have celebrations. I did the first one back in 1985 in North Carolina. Bases and stations hold activities and we invite people from the community to come in and participate. It's first of all encouraged and command sponsored with messages coming from headquarters saying the observance period is here. 

TBC-What are the current and future career opportunities for African-American college graduates in the Marine Corps? 

Stanley- The sky is the limit. The information age will have a requirement for not only information technology, but computer abilities and other technical skills. You will find that all these will be relevant in the future. Business acumen in general, public affairs, and almost any discipline you can take in college can be related to opportunities in the Corps. The most important part is the ability to think and analyze; to not only have self-confidence, but  be articulate and think critically and objectively. The ability to make decisions and be decisive are part of all those relevant things you learn in and outside of college. The Marine Corps recognizes that in the year 2015 and 2020, the United States will be a different place with growing African-American and Hispanic populations. So, the move towards diversity is on because it takes 20 plus years to incubate and grow generals and admirals. They just don't happen overnight, so we gotta start now and start working toward those 
years. 

TBC- Is there life for you outside of the Marine Corps? Are you involved in your community, especially the African-American community? 
 
Stanley-That's an understatement. I've kept one foot in the community the entire time I've been wearing the uniform. I've spoken in colleges and churches and served as president of a school bus company when my daughter was in parochial school. On my off-duty time, I was the East Regional Vice President of the National Naval Officers Association; an organization dedicated to recruiting, retention, and career development of minority officers in the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard.