Dr. Clough attended Belvedere Elementary School, Nathan Hale Junior High and Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a Regents Scholarship before joining the United States Air Force, graduating from the Air Force Academy with a B.S. in Life Sciences. While at the Academy, he was selected to attend Medical School on Active Duty at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, then served a Surgical Internship at David Grant U.S. Air Force Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California.

After completing Orthopedic Surgery Residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, he served as Staff Orthopedic Surgeon and several staff and leadership positions at the USAF Regional Hospital, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. He also completed training in Flight Surgery at the School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas.