Monday, September 8, 2014

Sometimes I am just clueless about what's happening - Mark D. Neighbors has moved from the OPNAV Staff


Senior Advisor
 to the 
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance
 has left the OPNAV Staff.

Mr. Mark Neighbors enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1974 and trained in Chinese Mandarin at Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California. After serving in various assignments as an enlisted voice analyst in Korea, Maryland and Hawaii, he was commissioned an Ensign in 1983. He subsequently performed duties in operational and staff assignments ashore and afloat in California, Japan, Maryland and Washington, DC. 

He was the Commander, Task Force 70/Striking Force SEVENTH Fleet cryptologist in the 1990s and was a powerhouse on the Yokosuka waterfront for a number of years, having served as the Officer in Charge, U.S. Naval Security Group Detachment Yokosuka, Japan.

To our great dismay, Mark retired as Commander in 2001. He entered the U.S. Civil Service and served in several staff intelligence assignments at the U.S. Navy Headquarters (OPNAV).

He was selected as a Defense Intelligence Senior Level (DISL) in 2007 during a three year assignment as the Navy’s Deputy Senior Language Authority.

In September 2008 he reported to the staff of the Director, Naval Intelligence where he facilitated the OPNAV Headquarters reorganization in 2009 and became Chief of Staff to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance. In January 2010 he executed a Joint Duty Assignment with the Defense Intelligence Agency where he developed the Civilian Foreign Area Specialist (CIVFAS) Program for the Defense Intelligence Enterprise. He returned to OPNAV in February 2011 and serves as the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (N2/N6).

Mr. Neighbors holds a bachelors of general studies in political science from Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii and a masters of science in national resource strategy from National Defense University in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s SEMINAR XXI Program, and a recipient of the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award. His highest military decoration was the Legion of Merit. 

9 comments:

Jim said...

What are his plans - retirement or another position?

Mike Lambert said...

Jim

I believe he has moved to the Penn State Lab in some capacity.

Jim said...

Sounds interesting. I wish him luck.

Gerry Bevers said...

I knew Mark when he was still just a Third/Second Class Petty Officer in Korea. He was one of the nicest, most affable guys I have ever met, but I never imagined he would have such a successful career, maybe because I never worked with him.

He volunteered to show me around my first night in Korea, and he also gave me a Korean language textbook he had used in a Univ. of Maryland class. Now that I think about it, I should have known he would be successful. He had ambition, the right attitude, and a great personality. I wish him continued success.

Deborah Kaye said...

(Then) Commander Neighbors was, and still, is to this day, my favorite Navy "boss." I definitely stayed on my toes while working for him at NSGD Yokosuka in the 90's. I always wondered where he ended up. Glad to have found this post. CTA1(Retired) Kuhnhausen

Unknown said...

Wow, look at Mark, so long ago we were stationed together at NSGD Kunia. Hope KwanHe is still his bride. Way to go Mark, I knew you were destined for great things. All the best to you, Bob Weller

Anonymous said...

(Then) Commander Neighbors was my OIC at NSGD Yokosuka. When I made CTM2, he "tacked on my crow". Before he did, he grinned, pointed at his Good Conduct Medal and said, "See this? This is why I get to do this." I'll never forget that moment (21 years ago) and I was very proud to have him do it.

Anonymous said...

(Then) Commander Neighbors was my OIC at NSGD Yokosuka. When I made CTM2, he "tacked on my crow". Before he did, he grinned, pointed at his Good Conduct Medal and said, "See this? This is why I get to do this." I'll never forget that moment (21 years ago) and I was very proud to have him do it.

John Anderson said...

I wrote his Letter of Reccomendation for OCS when he worked for me in Kunia. Although he was a PO2, I selected him over several PO1s to develop and administer our division training program. I am happy to see he achieved his full potential. - John Anderson, CTIC, USN, Ret