A nation must think before it acts.
Mark “Pete” Peterson enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1969, graduated from Parris Island in 1970 and did a tour in Vietnam with 3rd Battalion 1st Marine Division. Following enlistment, he received his B.S. in Education from West Chester University in 1973. He was then commissioned a 2Lt. in the Marine Corps. He served as a Platoon Commander for two years before being accepted into flight school. He earned his wings from Pensacola in 1976 and reported to MCAS New River, Jacksonville, NC where he trained as a CH-46 pilot. During his time in the Fleet Marine Corps Pete spent over six years with deploying squadrons on amphibious ships. During that time he was involved in the Grenada student rescue operation, Beirut, Lebanon, and the first Gulf war, Desert Storm. Throughout his 22 year career Pete spent all of his time in the Fleet except for three years when he served as the Marine Corps Aide to President Reagan. He retired in 1991 as a Lieutenant Colonel and started working for Boeing that same year. During his 18 years at Boeing Pete has been a Logistics Support Manager on the International CH-47 Chinook Program and for the last 9 years has been on the V-22 Program working Sustainment activity and program management. Pete holds two Masters Degrees, one in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and the other in International Relations from Salve Regina University. He also holds a Commercial pilot certificate with single and multi-engine ratings and an instrument rating.