Mark Ray Email & Phone Number

Fort Liberty, North Carolina

Program Manager for the proof-of-concept pilot project to implement elements of the Department of Defense Warfighter Brain Health Initiative. This program advances the brain health monitoring programs by developing neurophysiological, human performance, clinical, and psychometric measures and performance attributes coupled with gauge data to characterize the degree of impairment across a SOF Soldier’s lifespan, and inform early treatment protocols to mitigate long term impact of exposure. The results will be used to inform knowledge products and possible identification of objective markers of function. The program will also identify devices that support the capture of multi-domain function data across multiple environments for the future capability to field monitoring of function in all environments.The program further refines concepts and specifications and enables future knowledge materiel development decisions for the Warfighter Brain Health Monitoring efforts over the life of the operator. Our team works to develop and improve physiological monitoring of multiple systems, including balance, reaction time, cognitive, and dual task activities. Our systems will characterize the degree of impairment across a SOF Soldier’s lifespan, and will inform early recognition of exposure deficits, treatment, and recovery of service members throughout the continuum of care.

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

I lead 310 military, General Schedule government and contract civilian employees in the human performance, sports medicine, wellness and community/family support disciplines. Our team collaborates, integrates, and resources the Physical, Cognitive, Psychological, Spiritual Performance and Social & Family domains to inform and improve operational performance, ensuring over 34,000 Army Special Operations Forces are ready to accomplish their mission. Simultaneously, we build the resilience of our Soldiers, their Families, Civilian employees and Veterans to thrive in service to the nation and beyond. We are responsible for planning, programming, budgeting and executing $30M in payroll and $15M in operating funds to support our people in 21 facilities across 11 global locations. I also serve as the Chairperson of the USASOC Human Subjects Review Board, the Alternate Institutional Official, and a voting member of the USSOCOM Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Human Performance Research Advisory Group (HPRAG). These roles and functions ensure that our Biomedical and Human Performance research studies and related activities are within the guidelines and regulations of both the Army Human Research Protections Office (AHRPO) and USSOCOM Biomedical and Human Performance and Biomedical Research and Development Directives.

Durham, North Carolina, United States

North Carolina, United States

I led 250 military, General Schedule government and contract civilian employees in the human performance, sports medicine, wellness and community/family support disciplines. Our team collaborated, integrated, and resourced the Physical, Cognitive, Psychological, Spiritual Performance and Social & Family domains to inform and improve operational performance, ensuring over 34,000 Army Special Operations Forces were ready to accomplish their mission. Simultaneously, we built the resilience of our Soldiers, their Families, Civilian employees and Veterans to thrive in service to the nation and beyond. We were responsible for planning, programming, budgeting and executing $20M in payroll and $13M in operating funds to support our people in 21 facilities across 11 global locations. I also served as the Chairperson of the USASOC Human Subjects Review Board, the Alternate Institutional Official, and a voting member of the USSOCOM Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Human Performance Research Advisory Group (HPRAG). These roles and functions ensured that our Biomedical and Human Performance research studies and related activities are within the guidelines and regulations of both the Army Human Research Protections Office (AHRPO) and USSOCOM Biomedical and Human Performance and Biomedical Research and Development Directives.

North Carolina, United States

The Honor Foundation (THF) is a unique transition institute created exclusively for Navy SEALs and the U.S. Special Operations community. We provide a clear process for professional development and a diverse ecosystem of world class support and technology. Every step is dedicated to preparing these outstanding men and women to continue to realize their maximum potential during and after their service career.If you are looking for the one thing that makes THF special, it may be this: every decision we make is the product of co-creation with actual members of the Special Operations community. We seek their input constantly. We approach challenges the way they do. We strive to hold ourselves to their impeccable standards. We achieve because we follow the lead of the world’s highest achievers.The Mission: "To serve others with honor, for life. So, their next mission is clear and continues to impact the world.

West Point, New York, United States

I served as an executive-level leader for 280 staff members and 30 teams in an NCAA Division 1A (FBS) intercollegiate athletic department. We improved our performance from 163rd to 75th in the nation in the Learfield Director’s Cup standings, while achieving a 90% NCAA Graduation Success Rate across all sports, and 42% of all cadet-athletes (student-athletes) reaching Dean’s List status in 2019. Our department developed 1,100 cadet-athletes annually to grow as leaders in the U.S. Army, while competing and winning at an elite Division 1A level. I supervised the revision of military and academic scheduling, ensuring training and education was synchronized across Academy (college) departments to optimize the holistic cadet-athlete wellness and performance. Directing the implementation of an annual operating budget in excess of $20M, while providing strategic financial input as a member of the executive staff of Senior Associate Athletic Directors required informed decisiveness. My decisions were shaped by my peers’ and direct and indirect reports’ input, inclusive of their various skill sets and expertise. I leveraged my proven work ethic to secure federal grant funds totaling $92M over five years, serving as a Cooperative Agreement Manager between the U.S. Army and the Army West Point Athletic Association 501(c)3 non- profit organization. My critical thinking skills were vital to identify and integrate increased revenue streams, including $1.1M in multimedia rights contracts, $800,000 in annual licensing fees-a royalty increase of 170% over two fiscal years, while managing a brick-and-mortar and online retail business, resulting in over $3M in annual sales. I relied on my empathy skills to work closely every day with my leaders and co-workers of diverse backgrounds and experiences to accomplish our mission as a unified team.

West Point, New York

As a newcomer to the collegiate athletics industry, I had to gain and maintain the trust of my co-workers, while learning on the job and quickly understanding my adapting role in a new industry. I led team and game day operations to include season planning, food service, visiting team operations, event security, and annual cadet military and academic scheduling across 400 intercollegiate competitions annually. I was open to criticism in these various roles, learning and adapting on a daily basis. Building a collaborative public and private sector partnership, we overhauled nutrition strategies and planned year-round food service logistics for our department, reducing waste, providing more effective nutrition options for elite athletes, and leveraging over $800K annually in additional nutrition funding.

Iraq/Middle East, Afghanistan, Germany

I commanded and led 10 officers and 125 non-commissioned officers, developing their training, mentoring them in their leader roles, and employing them in global operations. As an organization, we were responsible for the standing mission to conduct no-notice, worldwide deployments in support of US Department of Defense policies and objectives. I led, participated in, or coordinated hundreds of no-fail special operations missions in both combat theaters and unstable areas across multiple continents during times of crisis. We remained persistent in our intelligence gathering and operational fusion, conducting operations when we recognized opportunities, all the while in accordance with appropriate legal authorities. I deployed multiple times to Iraq, Afghanistan, throughout the Middle East, and across North and West Africa to achieve critical strategic and operational objectives for the US Government, partnering with other government agencies and allies. I maintained oversight of a $1.2M operating budget, to enable our operations, maintenance and training.

Ft. Campbell, Ky, Iraq/Middle East

Ft. Bragg, North Carolina

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd (Current Student), Health Sciences: Exercise And Sport Science

Master Of Science, Sport Science (Sport And Exercise Psychology)

Master Of Strategic Studies, Military Strategic Studies, General

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Systems Engineering