Mark Rader

Though Mark graduated with a degree in geology, he didn’t want a desk job so he followed in his Dad’s footsteps and went for the Navy’s “office-in the-sky”. Mark began his flying career with two tours— one on shore as a flight instructor and one that began on the “Top Gun” carrier, USS Enterprise. Mark’s unique call sign on that carrier was “Darth”. Afterwards, he stayed in the Navy as a reservist, received a teaching degree and taught challenged students in Oakland for 13 years. Mark joined the AO SKY/ Aviation Advisor team in 2008. Says Mark, “This is the best working environment I’ve ever been involved in… accountability exists within everyone, and each takes personal responsibility for their performance.”

Mark has a total flight time of 8,500 hours including over 7,000 hours in jet aircraft. He also has over 4,000 hours in the Gulfstream GIV and 1,200 hours in the Gulfstream G200. Mark was a Commander/Pilot and Flight Instructor in the Navy, flying both C-20s and A-6 Intruders. During his deployment on the USS Enterprise throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, Asia and Middle East, Mark logged 389 aircraft carrier landings. Mark has a Masters of Education from the University of California at Berkeley and taught high school mathematics in Oakland, CA.