Col. Mark Ray
Deputy Military AD
United States Military Academy
Colonel Mark Ray rejoined the Army West Point Athletics Department in June 2017 to serve in the role of Deputy Military Athletic Director. In this role, he serves as the principle military advisor for the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. He is a member of the staff of Senior Associate Athletic Directors and is focused upon Financial Management and Human Resources, Facilities, Logistics, and Information Management as the principle point of contact within the department for adjacent West Point Staff agencies.
Colonel Ray was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1996 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy. After serving as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division and F Company, 51st Infantry Regiment (Corps Long Range Surveillance Company), he was selected into and completed qualification training in the Special Forces Branch. COL Ray has served in 5th Special Forces Group and the United States Special Operations Command (USASOC) at every level from Detachment to Battalion Commander, over the course of 14 years in Special Operations. He has served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and has served in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
A native of Virginia, Ray has been stationed at various posts in North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering from USMA, a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, and a Master of Science in Sports Science from Lock Haven University. While a cadet at West Point, Ray was a member of the Sprint Football team for four seasons, beating Navy twice and earning three varsity letters.
COL Ray now resides at West Point with his wife Tracy, daughter, Harper, and sons, Mark, Jr. and Jack.
