The Gander Tragedy: "Up from the Ashes"

Bio:

Mark Armstrong began his first term as a San Ramon City Councilmember in January 2021. A California and San Francisco Bay Area native, he is an 18-year resident of San Ramon. He and his wife Brenda raised their four children, all graduates of California High School, in various places in the U.S. and overseas before settling down in San Ramon in 2004. 

Mark graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point in 1981 where he studied Civil Engineering. He is graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College and earned Masters degrees in Military Arts and Sciences, and Strategic Studies.

He retired from the United States Army following a 30-year career as an Infantry Officer serving in a variety of Army, multi-service, and interagency command and staff assignments in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Caribbean.

He later continued his public service with FEMA Region IX based in Oakland, serving in various senior leader positions supporting disaster response and recovery for many States, Territories and Tribes across the country. In 2018, Mark retired again after nearly 41 years of combined uniformed and civilian federal service.

His hobbies and interests include beekeeping, fishing, hiking, gardening, cooking and traveling. He is currently writing a book about one of his Army deployment experiences.