Mark W. Martin, PhD

Magisterial District Judge Mark W. Martin graduated from Saegertown Area High School (Crawford County) in 1981.  He graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in 1985 and was commissioned as an active-duty US Army infantry officer.  His first assignment was with the 101^st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY, as a rifle platoon leader.  He then served in various other infantry assignments throughout the world before leaving active duty in 1994.

MDJ Martin graduated from the Harrisburg Area Community College Municipal Police Officers Academy in 1995. He served with the Hampden Township Police Department from 1995 until 1997 and with the Upper Allen Township Police Department from 1997 until 2004.  While with Upper Allen, he also served in the capacities of D.A.R.E. officer and Community Crime Prevention Officer, in addition to serving as a patrol officer.  In late 2004, MDJ Martin left the Upper Allen Township Police Department to serve as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at McDaniel College.  During this time, he successfully ran for the position of Magisterial District Judge of Magisterial District Court 09-3-05 (Mechanicsburg borough, Monroe Township, and Upper Allen Township in Cumberland County).  After winning the election, he completed the Magisterial District Judge certification course and assumed office in January 2006.  While in office, he has served on the PA Supreme Court’s Truancy Exploration Workgroup and the Mechanicsburg Area School District School Counseling Advisory Council.

In 1994, MDJ Martin joined the Army Reserve and subsequently served in various military police and civil affairs assignments.  He deployed overseas to combat zones four times between 2002 and 2013 in support of the Global War on Terrorism- twice to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq.  Key responsibilities and assignments while deployed have included monitoring the formation and development of the Afghan National Police force, serving on Ambassador Bremer’s staff as the Coalition Provisional Authority operations officer for northern Iraq, investigating genocidal mass grave sites from the Saddam Hussein regime, and serving as the 424^th Military Police Detachment Commander.  While serving as commander of the 424^th, his Soldiers were responsible for guarding the high value criminals and detainees of the US detention system in Iraq, many of whom were undergoing trial for genocidal-related offenses. His unit was then re-missioned to safeguard over 3,500 Iranian exiles near Forward Operating Base Grizzly, which he also commanded.  In 2012-2013, during his second deployment to Afghanistan, he commanded the civil affairs element of a provincial reconstruction team of an Afghan province that bordered with Iran. During this assignment, he was personally responsible for mentoring and advising the province’s chief justice and several ministers of the provincial cabinet. MDJ Martin retired in the rank of colonel from the U.S. Army in June 2015 after 30 years of service.

MDJ Martin has earned a BA in Political Science from IUP, an MS in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England College, and a PhD in Administration and Leadership Studies in the Public and Non-profit Sectors from IUP.  His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. His civilian awards include the key to the borough of Mechanicsburg, induction into the Pennsylvania American Legion Boys’ State Hall of Honor, and induction as a Vigil member into the Boy Scouts of America’s Order of the Arrow.

MDJ Martin has three adult sons and one grandson.  He is a member of the Mechanicsburg American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.  In his spare time, he volunteers as a committee member for Troop 190, merit badge counselor for several merit badges, and has served as a member and officer of the Cumberland County Search and Rescue Team.  He and his family reside in Upper Allen Township.