Mark Towne

About Mark Towne

I began my journey in the U.S. Army as a private, and over 34 years of service, I retired as a Brigadier General at the Pentagon. That journey—from front-line leadership to executive strategy—taught me that the most critical currency in any organization is trust. Today, I help executives, managers, and organizational leaders harness that currency to create sustainable growth, reduce risk, and build high-performing teams through VETS Leadership LLC, where I serve as President and CEO.My career has spanned leadership roles across operations, strategy, training, education, finance, and organizational development. I’ve tackled complex challenges in national security, healthcare, infrastructure, energy, education, and global markets. Along the way, I’ve served on a non-profit board, worked as a banking industry vice president, and guided leaders across public, private, and academic sectors. These experiences shaped my conviction that trust is not merely a personal feeling or managerial task—it is a leadership competency that can be intentionally developed and leveraged as a competitive advantage.I hold multiple advanced degrees, including a Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership, an MBA, and three master’s degrees where I studied and conducted research on the intersection of economics and national security. My work combines research, experience, and practical strategies to help leaders navigate complexity, seize opportunities, and elevate their organizational impact. I speak, advise, and train leaders who are accountable for risk, performance, and value creation, helping them to think, make decisions, and build cultures and organizations where trust drives better stakeholder value and results.I have been married for over 33 years. My wife and I are proud parents of two grown children, and we enjoy exploring the North Carolina mountains together.If you would like to discuss a speaking engagement or learn more about VETS Leadership, please visit vetsleadership.com or contact me directly at m•••••@vetsleadership.com.

Experience

1. President and Chief Executive Officer

   Vets Leadership Llc

   Jun 2022 — Present

   Values, Education, Training, and Sustaining leadership consulting to for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Education

• Troy University

  MS, Management

  1993

• Saint John's University

  BS, Management

  1988

• Creighton University

  Doctor of Education - EdD, Interdisciplinary Leadership

  2019

• The United States Army War College

  MSS, Strategic Studies

  2010

• Syracuse University - Martin J. Whitman School of Management

  MBA, Financial Management

  2001

• Marine Corps University

  MMS, Military Studies

  2005