Foil: 9 Panel: 2 Column: 1 Line: 66

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Mark's military career began in Amberg, Germany, where he was enlisted in the Army. Two years later he transferred to Ft. Rucker, AL, went to flight school, and became a Warrant Officer, graduating from his Rotary Wing Course as an Honor Graduate. While stationed at Fort Carson, CO he flew OH-58. He was trained as a pilot on: TH-55, UH-1H, OH-58, and AH-IS. He was in the 4th Aviation Battalion (attack helicopter company) and was general support company pilot (1979-1983). He transferred to the Air Force to fly fixed wing aircraft. When he attended Flight Screening/USAF Officer Training School at Lackland, AFB, TX, Mark was a distinguished graduate.

He attended flight school at Williams AFB, AZ and graduated among the top in his class. He went from high marks to training others. He earned Top Graduate rank at T-37 Instructor Pilot Training (Randolph, AFB, 1985) and went on to be an instructor pilot for Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), providing all phases of flight and simulator training to UPT students at Williams AFB (1984-1987). He then transferred to Randolph AFB, TX. He was an instructor pilot for Pilot Instructor Training (PIT), responsible for flight and simulator training of instructor pilot trainees. He was also the Wing Stan/Eval pilot responsible for flight evaluations of all wing instructor pilots. In the 6 years he spent training pilot and trainers, he taught hundreds of pilots (1985-1991).

Mark then transferred to March AFB, CA where he was an instructor pilot/evaluator pilot for the KC-10. His work included worldwide airlift and aerial refueling missions. He flew in Deny Flight, Southern Watch, and Provide Hope operations in the Middle East (1991-1994). His path then took him to the 99th Airlift Squadron, as the Aircraft Commander for VC-9 (1994-1998). He flew worldwide VIP missions for the Vice President, First Lady, and other international leaders in the 96th Special Services Unit, and retired out of Andrews AFB after 21 years in the military.

Mark is currently a first officer with United Airlines. His planes include DC-10 and 737.