Brasfield & Gorrie’s Construction Veteran Buddy Clark: Man on a Mission

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In 1962, 18-year-old Buddy Clark worked as an apprentice carpenter building a test stand for NASA’s Saturn V launch vehicle at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This project enabled NASA to test the Saturn V, the rocket used in the Apollo program that took U.S. astronauts to the moon. Now, at age 72, Clark is back at Marshall working on two stands designed to perform structural tests on the largest-ever cryogenic fuel tanks for the most powerful rocket in history, the NASA Space Launch System. These test stands will expand the U.S. space program and help propel NASA’s journey to Mars.

As one of Brasfield & Gorrie’s most experienced superintendents, Clark oversees the team responsible for building the new test stands, which are located about a quarter mile from his first project at NASA. “Back in 1962, I didn’t fully understand the significance of the work. Then, like now, the work was complex and important; however, coming full circle, I can honestly say it is a great honor to work on a job with this kind of historical significance,” said Clark.

Brasfield & Gorrie began construction on the test stands in 2014, using more than 7,200 cubic yards of concrete and over 4,500 tons of structural steel. The first tower, Test Stand 4693, is 215-feet tall. It will test the SLS liquid hydrogen tank, which is 185-feet tall. The second structure, Test Stand 4697, is 85-feet tall and is designed to test the liquid oxygen tank.

As senior superintendent, Clark has overall responsibility for managing field forces and construction schedules, as well as safety and quality control. As a member of the project team, he also coordinates and oversees meetings with contractors and suppliers.

Since beginning his career in construction, Clark has amassed over 50 years of experience and worked on over $320 million in construction projects throughout the Southeast for Brasfield & Gorrie. His portfolio includes projects that span industrial, federal government, commercial, healthcare and retail market sectors.

Recently, the Mobile District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognized Brasfield & Gorrie for its safety achievements on the NASA SLS Test Stands project, specifically acknowledging Clark’s supervision and implementation of safety policy and practices.

As Clark reflects on his career, he said that one of his greatest joys has been inspiring field teams to perform to the best of their ability each day. He has been successful in this effort. At a recent topping-out event for the SLS project, several construction team members were seen thanking him for the opportunity to work on such a monumental project.

Click here for video clip: https://brasfieldgorrie.wistia.com/medias/y7c1m5xsvb.