Mark Balmert

San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC)

Sacramento Delegation Attendee 2020

Rear Admiral (retired) Mark Balmert served over thirty years in the Navy and is the Executive Director of San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC). He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and was commissioned as an Ensign through the Navy ROTC Program. He earned a Master’s Degree in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School and attended the National Securities Management Course at the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University. During his Navy career Rear Admiral Balmert served at sea aboard the USS Lynde McCormick (DDG 8), USS Fife (DD 991), and USS Merrill (DD 976). He commanded USS Chandler (DDG 996) winning the Battle Efficiency Award, commanded Destroyer Squadron Seven during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom serving as Sea Combat Commander for the Constellation Battle Group, and was the first commander of Expeditionary Strike Group Three where he deployed to Fifth Fleet. He also served at sea as Assistant Surface Operations Officer for Commander 7th Fleet, Flag Secretary for Commander 3rd Fleet, and Operations Officer for Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group One. His Navy shore assignments include Plans Officer at United Nations Command Seoul, Korea; Surface Commander Assignments Branch Head in Millington, Tennessee; Chief of Staff for Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; and Operations Division Director in the Navy Budget Office. Upon retiring from the Navy in 2009 he became the director of strategic planning and business development for AMSEC, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman and later a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries. In 2014 he joined BAE Systems as a program manager for San Diego Ship Repair. He served on the board of directors at SDMAC for a number years and was the president of the board before becoming the SDMAC Executive Director in 2018.