Mark Weatherington served more than 33-years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant General while serving as the Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command. In this position, he guided the day-to-day activities and future resourcing and operating strategies for the high reliability
organizations responsible for the safe and secure operations of the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, and specialized command and control capabilities. He also directed execution of the largest modernization portfolio in the Air Force, valued at over $186B and an annual operating budget of $900M.

Mark previously served as the Commander of “the Mighty Eighth” Air Force, leading the organization, training, equipping, and daily operations of the free world’s only long-range bomber force. He also spearheaded the AF’s second largest command responsible for the recruiting, training, and education of more than 300,000 students annually while assigned as the Deputy Commander, Air Education and Training Command.

A bomber aviator, Mark commanded at the squadron, wing, and numbered Air Force levels. Additionally, he served in a variety of strategy, warfighting requirements, and both flying and cyberspace operations positions within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and United States Northern Command. He graduated from both the USAF School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and the USAF Weapons School.

Mark grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in History. He also holds a Master’s degree in History from Hardin-Simmons University and earned a Chief Information Security Officer certificate from the National Defense University. A life-long learner, Mark participated in more than 30 professional and continuing education courses from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and others.

Mark and his wife Stephanie have three daughters.