Mark Andrew Kelly dropped out of college and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, finding himself standing on the yellow footprints of Parris Island the day after his twenty first birthday. After six years, several awards, and numerous deployments around the world, Mark was honorably discharged from the Marines with the rank of sergeant.

In January 1991 he was hired by the East Hartford police department. In the following twenty-one years he worked as a patrol officer, investigator in the detective bureau/vice and narcotics, sergeant in the detective bureau, sergeant in the patrol division and operator on the Emergency Response Team. He received fifteen awards and commendations for exceptional service.

Since his retirement Mark and his wife, Kim, have sailed their boat from the coast of Maine to Guadeloupe and driven their RV around the U.S., including Alaska. Currently, they split their time between Connecticut and Jackman, Maine. An aviation enthusiast his whole life, Mark has earned several pilot ratings and flies as much as his budget allows.