About us

As a retired Army Aviator, Paratrooper, and Logistician, Mark has a very diverse background holding positions including Program Manager, Product Director, Marketing Director, Weapons Trainer and possesses a deep experience in engineering and manufacturing,

He is an Owner / Manager of Survival Innovations, LLC in Mills River North Carolina. He and two other partners formed the company in March, 2004, with a focus on Aviation Safety Systems encompassing Flotation and Ejections Seats as well as designing and manufacturing safety equipment.

Mark served at all levels of Command while in the Army. He was a Combat Commander during Desert Storm with B Company 159 Aviation Battalion, and in Somali with K Company, 159th Aviation Regiment, during Operation Restoring Hope. He was qualified as a Test Pilot in the HU-1H and CH-47 helicopter and also rated in the OH-58 helicopter.

After the military, Mark worked for Safety Equipment International, a division of Simula, Inc in Asheville, NC. Beginning as the Program Manager for the Army Advance Tactical Parachute System and E2C Bail Out Parachute, Mark worked his way to Product Manager for all Parachute Systems within Simula.

After leaving Simula in 2000, he became the Military Marketing and Sales Manager for Talley Defense Systems. When Talley was bought by Nammo in 2007, Mark was moved to Field Marketing Director for Nammo where he remained until he left Nammo in 2016.

In 2017, Mark returned his focus on Survival Innovation (SI), which he and his partners had launched 13 years prior. With his business partner, Jason Smith, Mark began to rapidly grow the business.
Purchasing a new building, expanding capabilities and hiring talented employees were improvements that propelled the company forward but not the real reason for the successes SI is experiencing. Mark has puts Soldiers, Aircrews, and Customers first. Building lifesaving systems for the military aviation community, his demanding emphases on quality and workmanship in design, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing has continued to be the motivation and solid foundation that drives Survival Innovations.  

Mark is married to Betty Kirk, his wife of 42 years and high school sweetheart. They have three daughters, and nine grandchildren.