Mark S. Martins

Early life Martins attended high school in Rockville, Maryland. His father was a colonel in the US Army as well as the chief of neurosurgery at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

He received his Bachelor of Science (BS) from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1983, graduating first in his class of 833 students.

He also holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from Harvard Law School where he served on the Harvard Law Review with Barack Obama and graduated magna cum laude, a Master of Laws (LLM) in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia (graduating first in his class), and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences (MMAS) from the Command and General Staff College (graduating first in his class).

Military career Martins commissioned into the Infantry Branch of the US Army and served as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division in 1983. In 1987, he was accepted into the Army's Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP). Upon his graduation from Harvard Law School in 1990, Martins became a judge advocate in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.

His military education includes:

Infantry Officer Basic Course Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course Judge Advocate Officer Graduate Course Combined Arms and Services Staff School Command and General Staff College National War College

Since becoming a judge advocate, Martins has held a number of positions. This includes Trial Counsel, Chief of Legal Assistance, Chief of Administrative Law, Operational Law Attorney, and Senior Trial Counsel for the 101st Airborne Division. Martins was also the Instructor of International and Operational Law and deputy director of the Center for Law and Military Operations.

Additionally, Martins served overseas as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the 1st Infantry Division while stationed in Germany. he was also the Chief of Staff of USKFOR and the Legal Advisor to Commanding General, Task Force Falcon while stationed in Kosovo. Furthermore, he was also the Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In the fall of 2010, Martins assumed command of the new Rule of Law Field Force - Afghanistan, which works to transform problem areas into secure and accountable legal environments.

In a lecture following his acceptance of Harvard Law School's Medal of Freedom in 2011, Martins said:[Afghanistan's] lack of governance … is accompanied by a lack of confidence in the government's ability to deliver justice, resolve civil disputes and address a perceived culture of impunity among the powerful. Establishing the rule of law in these districts is critical to the kind of sound governance that will enable an enduring transition of security responsibility to Afghan forces and deny that rugged country as a sanctuary for global threats. Martins became the Chief Prosecutor of Military Commissions in 2011 at Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp. During this time, he reportedly requested not to be considered for a promotion as Martins was in-line for a promotion to major general, though he felt that a promotion would be disruptive to his work in Guantánamo. In 2021, he decided to retire effective September 30, 2021, before the start of the 9/11 trials. Martins' retirement announcement came as a surprise to many, though Martins was actually due to retire many times before 2021.

Military awards Martins is a recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star (two awards), and the Meritorious Service Medal (multiple awards).

His badges include the Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.