JO1 (SW/AW) Mark A. Savage joined the Navy on November 19, 1985 and upon completion of boot camp in Orlando, FL, he transferred to Cryptologic Technician (Collection) “A” School. After graduation, he reported to his first command at Naval Security Group Activity Misawa, Japan where he advanced to CTR3 and augmented the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) battle group, aboard USS Merrill (DD 976) during the transit from Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines to the United States following an Indian Ocean deployment.
Petty Officer Savage transferred to the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Diego Garcia for a one-year tour where he reenlisted for six additional years. After departing Diego Garcia, he was a member of the first class of students to attend the Mobile Systems Technical Data Facility (MSTDF) school in January 1990. Upon graduating from MSTDF "C" School, he reported to Naval Security Group Activity Homestead, Fla. to assist with the establishment of the MSTDF mission of providing cryptologic support to deployed units. During his tour, he was advanced to CTR2.
His next tour took him to Naval Security Group Activity Edzell, Scotland where he continued duties as a cryptologic shore support asset in the analysis and reporting shop. His follow-on orders took him back to the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Diego Garcia where he began training in his free time with the Naval Broadcasting Service Department.
Petty Officer Savage was selected for conversion to the Journalist rating and attended the Basic Journalism Course at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland in January 1996. In June 1996, he graduated from Basic Broadcaster's Course and reported to the Naval Media Center as a member of Mobile Detachment TWO.
His first deployment took him to Sigonella, Italy where he worked in the duplicating facility for three months and gained experience in radio broadcasting and video news production. In his second deployment, he worked for three months in radio broadcasting and news production in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
Petty Officer Savage had two more deployments as a member of Mobile Detachment TWO, both to the American Forces Network (AFN) in Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzogovina. As a member of the AFN team, he was the radio news director and producer and hosted the Saturday morning radio show.
For his work with the AFN team, Petty Officer Savage was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. He was also advanced to JO1 during his tour at the Naval Media Center and received the Navy Achievement Medal after completing this tour.
His next tour of duty took him to Yokosuka, Japan as a member of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) public affairs department. There he was assigned as the workcenter supervisor with a team of three personnel. He was also the editor of the "Kitty Hawk Flyer," a daily newspaper published while the ship is deployed, and the manager of the ship's Fleet Hometown News program.
JO1 (SW/AW) Savage received his two warfare pins while serving aboard the Kitty Hawk and received his second Navy Achievement Medal after completing his tour.
He then transferred to the staff of Commander Submarine Group TWO in January 2002 where he is the leading petty officer of the consolidated public affairs office for Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Commander, Submarine Group TWO; and Navy Region Northeast.
As a member of the Dolphin, base newspaper staff, Petty Officer Savage has written more than 150 news, feature and photojournalism stories and has taken several hundred photos which were seen by an audience of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 readers. Many of those stories and photos were subsequently published in other Navy products such as Undersea Warfare.
In 2002, Petty Officer Savage was awarded two Navy Chief of Information Merit awards for stories that he wrote for the Dolphin.
Petty Officer Savage will retire from the Navy after an illustrious 20-year career in November of 2005.
