Prior to starting Spathe Systems, Dr. Clifton worked in a myriad of positions within the defense industry and Government Civilian sector including Special Operations Forces (SOF) Account Manager for General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) (a Fortune 100 company), Vice President for Solutions Development and Marketing for ARMA Global Corporation leading numerous new business opportunities resulting in ARMA’s exponential growth from less than 20 employees and $20M revenue in 2010 to more than 1000 employees and $200M revenue in 2016.

As a Government Civilian, he was the Director for USSOCOM’s Global Network Operations (NetOps) Control Center (GNCC). Dr. Clifton retired from the U.S. Army as a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) after serving 24 years of active duty with Special Operations Forces and Conventional C4ISR units. He served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 1991 he was selected as the U.S. Drill Sergeant of the Year, for this achievement he appeared on Good Morning America, Today’s Show, Regis and Kathy Lee Show, and was featured in many magazines: Jet, Ebony, Sports Illustrated and Black Enterprise. He is a recipient of the Stephen Ailes Award and the Silver Signal Order of Mercury Award as well as the 1993 United States Army Special Operations Command Robert Sigholtz  Award.

As an honorary member of the 26th Infantry Regiment and an Audie Murphy Club Inductee, his awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit award, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Path Finder Badge; Drill Sergeant Badge. Mark holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master of Science in Leadership, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. Mark also has certifications in Business Development and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.