Resilience Planning for Maryland Defense Communities

Biography

Rear Admiral Mark Belton, SC, USN (Ret.) has an extensive background leading state and local government organizations including roles as Maryland’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Chief Administrative Officer for both Queen Annes’ and Charles Counties in Maryland, and as Executive Director for Pride of Baltimore, Inc. While in the Navy, Mark served afloat and ashore throughout a 31-year career as a logistics expert with flag officer assignments including as senior liaison to the Republic of Iraq ministries of Oil and Electricity and as Commander of the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group. He holds a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy; an M.B.A. from Regis University; and graduated from leadership programs at the Naval War College, Armed Forces Staff College, and National Defense University. Mark continues to promote innovation in resilience preparedness by representing the Maryland Association of Counties (MACO) on the Maryland Commission on Climate Change (MCCC), where he has been a voting member since 2015. Mark is a Program Director at Throwe Environmental where he assists local governments and nonprofits nationwide in meeting climate resilience and environmental finance challenges.