Sergeant Mark Otte
Public Affairs NCO
Sgt. Mark Otte is a Public Affairs photojournalist for the 100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD) in the Texas Army National Guard and works full-time in the State Public Affairs Office. For the MPAD he serves as the Unit Public Affairs Representative Course Manager for the 71st Troop Command, the MPAD's next higher echelon, and is lead on journalism training for the MPAD's broadcasters during the Army's Public Affairs MOS conversion.
Sgt. Otte graduated from the 46Q qualification course at Fort Meade in October 2017 as an honor graduate and was recognized for outstanding leadership while serving as the class leader. Just before leaving for his Public Affairs military training, Sgt. Otte deployed as a Public Affairs specialist in support of Operation Saber Strike 17, a multi-national training exercise located in Eastern Europe.
Prior to joining the MPAD, Sgt. Otte served as a Cavalry Scout and was assigned to the 112th Cavalry, 72nd Infantry, Texas National Guard and the 113th Cavalry, 34th Infantry, Iowa National Guard. While assigned to these units he served as a cavalry scout team leader, a TOW missile gunner and machine gunner. He deployed as a cavalry scout in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I&II, Operation Enduring Freedom and a peace-keeping mission in Egypt as part of the Multinational Force and Observers.
He first joined the military in 2002 and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky in 2002.
Sgt. Otte is currently working on a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Texas State University and works as a freelance journalist for several newspapers in the central Texas area. His other awards and decorations include: Army Commendation medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.
