Captain Mark McLean is native of Bullard, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1997 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. He also holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. After earning his naval aviator wings at Vance AFB, OK in 1999, McLean served operational assignments with the “Ironmen” of VQ-3 at Tinker AFB, OK from 2000-2003, where he was an E-6A/B Mission Commander Evaluator and E-6A/B Assistant NATOPS Instructor pilot. He then remained at Tinker AFB from 2003-2006 to join the “Roughnecks” of VQ-7 as an E-6A/B Assistant NATOPS Instructor pilot, instructing student pilots in the E-6A/B, B737/200 and B737/600 aircraft. In 2006, McLean transitioned to the Full Time Support community and reported to the VR-59 “Lone Star Express” at NASJRB Fort Worth JRB, TX, where he was eventually designated a C40 Assistant NATOPS Instructor Pilot and completed his Department Head tour while flying missions all over the world. His staff assignments included tours on the staff of Fleet Logistics Support Wing in Fort Worth, TX in 2006; as a Battle Watch Captain for the OPNAV staff, in the Pentagon from 2011-2014; and most recently as the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training since 2017. McLean served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the Navy Recruiting District Michigan and Indiana from 2014-2017. He assumed duties as the next Commanding Officer of NAS Fort Worth JRB, TX in the spring of 2020. He has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in numerous aircraft. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medals, Navy Achievement Medal and various unit awards.