CDR Clippinger graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1995 with a B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He then served as student engineer and damage control assistant aboard the Coast Guard Icebreaker Polar Star (WAGB 10), homeported in Seattle, Washington, and deployed in support of operation Deep Freeze 1996. From 1997 to 1999, he participated in the U.S. Navy officer exchange program aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer Peterson (DD 969), serving as Combat Information Center Officer, Gunnery, as well as a Weapons Officer for two deployments to the Mediterranean in support of NATO operations. He initially taught in the USCGA Mathematics Department after completing his M.S. in Applied Mathematics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with nonlinear ship dynamics as his area of research. He joined the Engineering Department in 2002 and has taught courses in Control Systems, Experimental Methods, Engineering Math and Engineering Design.  

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, 2005
• M.S., Applied Mathematics, Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, 2001
• B.S., Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, USCGA, 1995

• Experimental Methods
• Advanced Engineering Math
• Mechanical Engineering Design

• Non-Linear Coupling in the Roll-Heave-Pitch Motions of a Class of Ships as Sea , Ph.D. Thesis, 2005

• Coast Guard Commendation Medal, 2006
• Coast Guard Achievement Medal, 1997

• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
• Professional Engineer