SOCRS102- CPT. Mark E. Black- "Forging Educated & Honorable Young Men of Courage"

Straight Outta Combat Radio-Honoring Combat Wisdom

CAPTAIN Mark Black was named 12th Superintendent of Fishburne Military School 23 August 2016.

CAPTAIN Black hails from Milton, West Virginia. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, lettering in football and was selected as a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon and the Kappa Alpha Order, Beta Commission. He graduated with Distinction with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and was commissioned in the US Navy through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in 1986. In 2002 he graduated from the Air War College attaining a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies and a regional specialization in Sub-Sahara Africa. He completed Project Management courses through the George Washington School of Business in 2006 and completed the Navy Executive Development Course at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 2009. CAPTAIN Black was designated a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) after completing flight school and assigned to the F-14 Tomcat community. He primarily served throughout his thirty-year naval career in F-14 squadrons to include the VF-124 Gunfighters, VF-51 Screaming Eagles, VF-101 Grim Reapers, VF-41 Black Aces and Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC). He is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and served as a strike lead designated to direct numerous aircraft in aerial mission over hostile territory with three different Carrier Air Wings (CVWs). CAPTAIN Black’s staff roles were as the F-14/Precision Strike Requirements officer on the Navy Operational Staff and as the Defense Planning Branch Head Officer for the North American Treaty Organization (NATO).

CAPTAIN Black was selected to command on four separate occasions. His first command was as the Commanding Officer of the VF-11 Red Rippers. He transitioned the squadron from F-14s to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. He was later selected for major command as the Pacific F/A-18F Wing commander leading 23 F/A-18 and F-35 squadrons. CAPTAIN Black subsequently was assigned to lead all Naval personnel in Afghanistan as the NAVCENT (Forward) Afghanistan Officer in Charge (OIC). Upon return to the United States, he was chosen to lead the NROTC unit at the University of Virginia.

CAPTAIN Black is married to the former Kim White of Pace, Florida. They have two sons; Victor and Luke. Victor is a graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College, and Luke graduated from Ferrum College. Both were varsity lacrosse players and captained their teams. Victor is an active duty member of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Luke is an intelligence analyst and an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) technician with the 753rd EOD Company of the West Virginia National Guard.