Mark knows the true meaning of sacrifice, perseverance, and resilience. Mark served as a Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator 1st Class with SEAL Team 5A. As a Navy SEAL, Mark did combat deployments to Iraq. On his last deployment, Mark sustained a gunshot wound to the head from a bullet that went over his rifle through his right eye and out the back of his head a few inches behind his right ear. The injury left him blind in his right eye. Even though Mark was gravely wounded, he refused to be carried to the medivac helicopter. He walked himself through a ‘hot zone’ to be transported to a medical facility.
Against all odds, Mark worked through his critical injury and recovered. During his first few years of recovery, mobility, endurance, awareness, and memory were significantly affected, but Mark was determined to enter a new career path in law enforcement. After leaving the Navy, Mark began working at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and shortly thereafter completed the Police Academy. Since beginning employment, he has been to several law enforcement/investigations-related qualification courses. Mark is continuing his career at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as a Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. He is assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team as an Assistant Team Leader and is a member of the community safety team.