Mark retired from the U.S. Army after a 20-year career, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He then began a second career as a City Manager, working in 3 small communities in Montana and Oregon. During this timeframe, he took a year off and worked as a State Department Contractor in Africa, serving as the Military and Political Advisor to the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In 2019 Mark joined FEMA, serving first in the Public Assistance Program, and then in January of 2021, he assumed his current position as Federal Disaster Recovery Officer (FDRO).  Mark has deployed in support of numerous disasters throughout the United States.  He holds a BA in History and a master’s in public administration (MPA).