Mark Hoover

Mark Hoover, Ed.D.

Mr. Mark Hoover is an Assistant Professor in the UVA Master of Public Safety Program and Director of the National Criminal Justice Command College.

Mark is an experienced law enforcement and public safety leader, serving nearly three decades in public service.

In the federal sector, Mark worked as a Special Agent for the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, overseeing investigative and protection programs at U.S. Embassies overseas and protecting high-level officials including the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, members of Congress, cabinet officials, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Mark also served as an international safety and security advisor for the U.S. Peace Corps in Africa, overseeing crisis planning and response and safeguarding U.S. Government personnel and Peace Corps Volunteers across seven countries.

As Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement & Homeland Security for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Mark oversaw California’s statewide law enforcement mutual-aid system, coroner mutual-aid, coordination for mass casualty incidents, and the State’s Law Enforcement Operations Center.

In his role as Deputy Chief Sergeant-at-Arms of the California State Assembly, Mark led the Assembly’s dignitary protection, investigations, threat mitigation, emergency management, and capitol security programs; ensuring the safety of legislators and legislative staff across the state.

In higher education, Mark created safer campus communities as Director of Public Safety & Security at Concordia University – Irvine and as Assistant Director of Public Safety for California Baptist University. He also served as a police officer for the California State University and University of California Police Departments, where he focused on building community-police partnerships and advancing collaborative policing and shared governance models of public safety. He has authored articles on campus terrorism.

Mark has consulted for public and private organizations on security, law enforcement, and emergency management, and is an advocate for collaboration and co-production of innovative solutions to crime and safety issues through public-private partnerships.

Mark has a doctorate in education, a Master of Science in Joint Planning & Strategy (national security), and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He is a graduate of the National Defense University’s Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) and is a champion for public safety as a key component of America’s national security structure.