Faculty

Mark A. Becker is the Deputy Chair for the Warfare Analysis and Research Department of the United States Naval War College's Center for Naval Warfare Studies. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1982 with a B.S. in Communications (Radio-TV-Film) and then travelled for a year as a musician before becoming the Chief Engineer for a cable television company in central Texas. CDR Becker joined the Navy in 1988 after completing Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island and was commissioned a Supply Corps Officer.
 

After completing the Basic Supply Corps Officer course in Athens, Georgia he served on the USS IOWA (BB 61) as both the Sales Officer and as a MK 37 Gun Fire Control System Director Officer. In 1991, after a lateral transfer to Unrestricted Line and after completing the Surface Warfare Officer Division Officer course he served on the USS CARON (DD 970) as the Strike Officer and Navigator. He launched operational tomahawks in 1993 in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1995, after completing Department Head School he served on the USS VICKSBURG (CG 69) as Weapons Officer and as Combat Systems Officer (CSO). While serving as CSO he coordinated the installation of the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) combat system. In 1998 he attended the United States Naval War College and was selected to serve as an Associate Fellow for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Strategic Studies Group (SSG) XVIII where they developed the Sea Strike concept. He completed the Naval War College in March 2000 with a M.A in National Security and Strategic Studies.

In 2001 CDR Becker took command of the USS HERON (MHC 52). In 2002 he became the Sea Basing Branch Head for OPNAV N70 and while working closely with the Joint Staff J8 led the development of the Seabasing Joint Integrating Concept (JIC). In 2005 he became the Sea Basing Pillar Lead for the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) and led the development of the LCS Platform Wholeness Concept of Operations (CONOPS), the LCS Warfighting CONOPS, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) CONOPS, and the Foreign Humanitarian Assistance (FHA) CONOPS. In 2008 he deployed as an Individual Augmentee (IA) to Iraq and served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Navy Petroleum Detachment.