Mark James Denger has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mark Denger is recognized for his many years of dedicated military service, leadership, operational excellence and expertise. With a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, Mr. Denger is a recognized subject matter expert in his field, currently serving as the chief historian heading up the Military History Office for the California Military Department. Prior to assuming this role in 2024, he has been responsible for preserving and interpreting the military history of California, inclusive of ensuring that California's National Guard's legacy and heritage is accurately documented, preserved and accessible for future generations.
In addition to this primary role, Mr. Denger also serves as a cultural property protection professional. In this capacity, he provides expert guidance as both a consultant and resource advisor to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services on safeguarding California's many archaeological sites, historic monuments and structures, objects of antiquity, historic landmarks, artifacts and other objects of historic or scientific significance pertaining to the military history of California.
Leveraging decades of expertise in military history, archives, and museum curation, he now leads program development for the Heritage Emergency Response Team (HERT) within the California Military Department. Under Mr. Denger's leadership, HERT has been established as California's first non-firefighting, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional Type 3 All-Hazards/All-Artifacts Incident Management Team (IMT) and Cultural Property Protection Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT). Although a new and evolving concept in California's emergency management and homeland security disciplines, the HERT's mission is to rapidly respond, support, and assist museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions in safeguarding collections and heritage resources during and immediately after natural disasters or emergencies.
Mr. Denger's longstanding commitment to the preservation and protection of California's military history is further demonstrated by his ongoing service as a Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) for the Military Museum Command, California State Guard. In this context, he is also being recognized for his earlier tenure as both an archival technician and field historian with California Military Heritage Command, having assisted in the oversight of the California National Guard's museum activities and historical programs under the U.S. Army Museum Enterprise. From 1996 to 2015, he served in similar roles within the California Center for Military History, focusing on the preservation and restoration of critical historical documents and records.
Mr. Denger's expertise in museum management and operations was honed during his time as curator and archivist at the California State Military Museum from 2013 to 2014. During this period, he also served as the artifact responsible officer for the U.S. Army's Center of Military History, managing the stewardship of state and federal military artifacts located throughout the state. His earlier work in this field includes serving as archivist and registrar at the American Heritage Library and Museum from 1995 to 2010, and as a research historian with Tetra Tech under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Formerly Used Defense Sites Program from 2005 and 2007, conducting in-depth investigations into military sites across California.
Mr. Denger's early career has also featured positions in procurement and supply chain management. His background in project management has included roles as a materials manager and project coordinator with Plexus Corporation from 2000 to 2002 and serving as a special project manager and in procurement roles with Rockwell International / Boeing's Space Systems and Space Transportation Systems Divisions, and the Jensen-Kelly Corporation. This professional journey in aerospace is deeply rooted in his earlier military service having served in submarine satellite communications with the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 1983.
Academically, Mr. Denger's military education includes completion of the Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, along with significant coursework at the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Combat Studies Institute, and the Naval War College's Stockton Center for International Law. He holds certifications in Crisis, Emergency and Disaster Management from the California Specialized Training Institute, as well as additional certificates in emergency management from the Department of Homeland Security and the National Fire Academy as well as various other credentials in criminal justice and management.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Denger has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to patriotic, civic, and community service. He is President Emeritus of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California and Senior Advisor to the Children of the American Revolution. He is also a past President of the Society of the War of 1812 in California, where he additionally served as Vice President General of the General Society. His memberships include the Sons of the American Revolution and the Military Order of the Carabao.
In 1997, he founded the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated, serving as its first base commander until 2003, and he also represented the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II as a relief crew member. From 1996 to 1998, he served on the Los Angeles Veterans Advisory Council. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and American Legion. Mr. Denger's volunteer work includes long-standing involvement with the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, reflecting his strong belief in giving back to his community.
In his personal life, he is deeply devoted to his family and community, and is the proud father of one son, Steven Michael. Reflecting on his career, Mr. Denger attributes much of his success to effective networking, a skill that has enabled him to build lasting professional relationships and advance collaborative projects throughout his career. In the upcoming years, he plans to retire with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five, after completing a distinguished career devoted to preserving California's military history and supporting veterans' causes.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.