Dr. Clifford L. Stanley currently serves as an advisor and assessor with the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches, and as a core team member of Impact Business Coaches, a company dedicated to creating cultures where people look forward to coming to work on Monday. He also serves as a member of the External Diversity and Inclusion Council for Charter Communications (Spectrum).
Dr. Stanley has dedicated his life to serving God. He currently serves as an Associate Minister at Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, and has served faithfully in the following church ministries: Chair of the Diaconate; President of the Men’s Ministry; Bible Study Teacher; Sunday School Teacher; Chair, Pastoral Search Committee; Chairman of the Long-Range Planning Committee; Leadership Development Committee; Drama Guild; Senior Choir, and Men’s Chorus.
Dr. Stanley was sworn in as the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on February 16, 2010. He served as the senior policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits for 1.4 million active-duty military personnel, 1.3 million Guard and Reserve personnel, 680,000 DoD civilians, and was responsible for overseeing the overall state of military readiness.
Prior to assuming his position as the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Dr. Stanley was President of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship organization. He also served on the senior leadership team of the University of Pennsylvania as the Executive Vice President. In that capacity, he was responsible to the president for the non-academic functions of the university, such as business, finance, facilities maintenance, and campus security.
Secretary Stanley, a retired United States Marine Corps infantry officer, served 33 years in uniform, retiring as a Major General. His last position was as the Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia. Additionally, he served as the Marine Corps Principal Representative to the Joint Requirements Board which supported the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out his responsibilities.
Other leadership positions included: Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA; Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA; Director of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington DC; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, (Manpower Plans & Policy); Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Regiment, Desk Officer in the Office of the Assistant Secretary Of Defense, East Asia and Pacific Region; Advisor to the Secretary of Defense on POW/MIA Affairs; Special Assistant and Marine Corps Aide for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and instructor at the United States Naval Academy. Secretary Stanley was also a White House Fellow where he served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Dr. Stanley is a graduate of South Carolina State University. He received his Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University, graduating with honors. His formal military education includes Amphibious Warfare School, the Naval War College, Honor Graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and National War College. Dr. Stanley earned his Doctorate Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and holds Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from South Carolina State University and Spalding University. Additionally, he holds a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, from The Medical University of South Carolina and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Stillman College.
Stanley’s military honors include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. His civilian awards include receiving the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (N.A.A.C.P.) Meritorious Service Award, the N.A.A.C.P. Roy Wilkins Award, and the American Legion Award for Inspirational Leadership.
Stanley and his wife, Rosalyn Hill Stanley, have one daughter, Dr. Angela Yvonne Stanley, Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired).