Col. Mark C. Betters is the commander of the 11th Mission Support Group, 11th Wing, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, District of Columbia. As the 11th Mission Support Group commander, he is responsible for providing contracting, logistical, personnel, communications, infrastructure, and installation security services in support of the 11th Wing and its 68 mission partner units. The 966-acre installation is home to a range of military and civilian agency mission partners including Marine Helicopter Squadron One, the White House Communication Agency, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, the Defense Intelligence Agency, United States Coast Guard Station Washington, Navy and Air Force Ceremonial Guards, as well as more than 18,000 military and civilian employees and their families throughout the National Capital Region.
Col. Betters hails from Knightdale, NC where he enlisted in the Air Force in 1990. After completing Basic Military Training and Technical school, he served 9 years in the Dental and Medical career fields, in both Active Duty and Reserve status, before earning his commission through the University of New Mexico’s ROTC program. A career cyberspace warfare officer, he has served on staffs at the wing, combatant command, joint and detachment. A highlight of Col. Betters’ career was having the honor of Commanding the 707th Communications Squadron, where he led a dynamic team of 240 airmen conducting cyberspace, space, nuclear, and cryptologic operations across the globe for Combatant Commands, national agencies and leaders. He is a combat veteran with deployments to Bahrain, Iraq, and Afghanistan in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Afghan Assist.
Prior to his current assignment, Col. Betters served on the staff of the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a Cyberspace Policy Advisor and Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
2000 Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2001 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Science, Social Science, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
2007 Advanced Communication Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2011 Cyber 300, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2013 Joint Forces Staff College JPME II, Norfolk, Va.
2017 Cyber 400, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2020 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2000 – June 2001, Crew Commander NOSC-D, 609th ACOMS, Shaw AFB, S.C.
- July 2001 – June 2002, Officer in Charge, Configuration Management, 609th ACOMS, Shaw AFB, SC
- July 2002 – January 2003, Crew Commander AFCERT, 33d IOS, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
- January 2003 – June 2003, Deployed Intrusion Detection Team Lead, NSA Bahrain
- July 2003 – August 2004, Chief, Intrusion Detection Team, 33d IOS, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
- August 2004 – June 2005, Chief, Operations Readiness Branch, AFIWC, JBSA-Lackland AFB, Texas
- June 2005 – July 2007, AFROTC Instructor, Detachment 510, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
- July 2007 – July 2008, Commandant of Cadets, AFROTC Detachment 510, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
- July 2008 – July 2009, Unit Admissions Officer, AFROTC Detachment 510, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
- July 2009 – July 2010, Flight Commander, AWACS Operational Testing, 552nd ACNS, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- July 2010 – April 2011, Transition Team Training at Fort Polk, then G6 Advisor, Tikrit, Iraq
- April 2011 – June 2012, Flight Commander, Operations, 552nd ACNS, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- July 2012 – June 2014, Chief, Information Assurance, AFELM, Geilenkirchen AB, Germany
- June 2014 – July 2015, Deputy Director, A6, AFELM, Geilenkirchen AB, Germany
- July 2015 – February 2016, Director of Operations, 707th Communications Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
- February 2016 – June 2017, Director, Cyberspace Integration, 70th ISR Wing, Fort Meade, Md.
- June 2017 – July 2019, Commander, 707th Communications Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
- July 2019 – July 2021, Chief of Operations, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md.
- July 2021 – June 2022, Cyberspace Policy Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- June 2021 – Present, Commander, 11th Mission Support Group, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2012 – June 2014, Chief, Information Assurance, AFELM, Geilenkirchen AB, Germany as a major
- June 2014 – July 2015, Deputy Director, A6, AFELM, Geilenkirchen AB, Germany as a major
- July 2019 – July 2021, Chief of Operations, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md. as a lieutenant colonel
- July 2021 – June 2022, Cyberspace Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (2 OLC)
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Combat Readiness Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 Bronze Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (1 Bronze Star)
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO Medal – International Security Assistance Force
Army Combat Action Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 17, 2000
First Lieutenant Jan. 17, 2002
Captain Jan. 17 2004
Major Oct. 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel Apr. 1, 2015
Colonel Sept. 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2022)