Rear Admiral Mark Leavitt

Rear Adm. Leavitt is a New England native and son of a United States Marine Corps Sergeant Major. He is a graduate of Florida State University (FSU), Tallahassee, Fla., and enlisted as an Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate in April 1982. Upon graduation from FSU, he entered Aviation Officer Candidate School Pensacola, Fla. He was designated a naval aviator in June 1986 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Miss.

Leavitt reported to the VA-42 "Green Pawns" NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va., for Fleet Replacement training as an A-6E Intruder pilot. Upon completion of his training in April 1987, he reported to the VA-34 "Blue Blasters" completing two Mediterranean deployments embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), qualifying as a wing landing signal officer (LSO).

In September 1990, Leavitt reported again to VA-42 as a Fleet Replacement Instructor pilot. In April 1992, Leavitt received orders to Commander, Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW 7) NAS Oceana, as a Staff LSO while enroute to training at VFA-106 NAS Cecil Field, Fla. Upon completion of a category IV Syllabus in the FA-18C, Leavitt assumed the duties as Senior Staff LSO and Safety Officer with CVW-7. Leavitt flew both the A-6E Intruder and the F-18C Hornet while attached to CVW-7. CVW-7 embarked in USS George Washington (CVN 73) for her maiden work up cycle and deployment to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf. He oversaw the mishap free completion of over 15,000 carrier landings. In April 1996, Leavitt left active duty and transferred to the Navy Reserve and was selected as a Fleet Logistics Squadron 56 (VR 56) aviator.

Leavitt’s command tours include: VR-56, Training Air wing Two Reserve Component, and Chief of Naval Air Training Reserve Component and Joint Transportation Reserve Unit Navy Element, United States Transportation Command. During his tenure, the VR-56 "Globemasters" deployed several aircraft and crews to the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earned numerous awards including the Noel Davis Battle E, and the Commander Fleet Logistics Support Wing Career Information Management Award for retention. During his command tour as Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Reserve Component commander, his responsibilities included overseeing the Reserve program that employed over 350 Navy and Marine Corps Selected Reservists and 90 Full-Time Support personnel located in five Training Air Wings and the CNATRA staff. While serving as commanding officer Joint Transportation Reserve Unit Navy Element, United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), he directly supported the USTRANSCOM mission as the Distribution Process Owner for all of DoD.

Leavitt’s next assignment was deputy Reserve component commander, Navy Region Midwest. In this capacity, he served as the Senior Selected Reservist in the Navy Midwest region encompassing 16 states and 35 Naval Operational Support Centers.

His most recent assignment was as Reserve chief of staff for Commander, Naval Air Forces and Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet.

Leavitt's military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and other personal and unit awards and citations.