Mark has an unwavering passion for working with dogs from a trust-based, trauma-informed approach focusing on consent and choice. He joined the team full-time in 2021, having first partnered with WD4C as a contractor to assist in sourcing rescue dogs, deploying worldwide on ecological monitoring projects, and developing biosecurity programs. His career path reflects adaptability and a diverse skill set.

Mark honorably served eight years in the Navy as a Cryptologic Technician and Law Enforcement Specialist. Upon transitioning out of the military, he was commissioned as a Conservation Police Officer with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and instigated VDWR’s wildlife canine program. During this time, he also started his own consulting-focused business, offering pet training insights.

At WD4C, Mark continues to develop programs and provide operational support to the dog-handler teams while fostering training philosophies that focus on cooperative relationships, positive reinforcement, and benevolent leadership. He’s always eager to expand the scope of biosecurity detection dog programs, especially integrated pest management rodent approaches, tailoring detection dog services that improve management practices and reduce the use of pesticides, driven by an understanding of (and compassion towards) rodent biology/behavior.