As Veterans Day approaches, I feel it is important to share the reflections of one of our team members, Mark Osvirk, CA’s Director of Operations and a proud military veteran. His journey through service in the United States Navy has left a lasting impact on his life, his approach to work, and his leadership style. Mark’s story is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans and their families, the importance of camaraderie and support, and the enduring values of service and leadership.
Reflecting on his time in the military, Mark speaks about his family’s support and their legacy in military service—his grandfather, his father, and his brothers-in-law are all veterans. “My dad and I were very very close, and his birthday is the day before Veterans Day, so it’s a special time for me.”
When Mark decided to join the military it was because he did not know his path; he never intended it to be a career, but it became that and much more. His decision to join scared his mom and sisters but brought him and his dad and brother-in-law closer, because they then had a common bond. “My family supported me and thankfully let me come to the decision to join on my own. It was a proud moment for my dad, who was my best friend.” Mark’s advice to any parent who has a child thinking about military service is to give them support but give them space and trust their decision.
Mark also speaks of the deep bonds formed with his fellow service members. He describes the camaraderie that grows in the face of shared challenges—a connection that transcends differences and unites individuals in purpose. “What brought us close was the training, the difficulty, and the sense of sacrifice and purpose. There’s a mutual respect that builds over time, and it’s a sense of unity that I carry with me to this day,” he says.
This same spirit of unity and being in service of others that he brings to his role at CA, encouraging his team to work together toward a common goal in service of our students.
Mark has a deep commitment to service—a value that, in many ways, defines the veteran community. “Being in service to others is what I am proud of and how I live my life.” When you serve, he emphasizes, it’s not just for yourself. This devotion to others guides him in his work; he believes that true success is measured not by personal gain but by the positive impact one can make on others’ lives.
“Veterans Day is a great day, but it’s a hard day,” Mark acknowledges. Veterans Day is also a time of remembrance—a chance to honor those who gave their lives and to recognize the sacrifices made by the families who supported them. Mark reminds us that behind every service member is a family who shares in the trials and sacrifices of military life. “Because my wife had to be mom and dad, the kids didn’t have their dad for periods of time for months on end. I was gone on deployment, and it was hard. I’ve talked to my adult kids about that and they’ve been very open and honest about how hard it was when I was gone. Families and their supporters need to be celebrated just as much on Veterans Day as the people who wore the uniform, because they’re serving, just in a different way.”
In the military, leadership is forged in moments of challenge, requiring individuals to step up, support their team, and make decisions that affect others. “Leadership decisions in the military are different because someone could die from those decisions. Transitioning to civilian life, I had to change the way I approached leadership,” Mark says. His sentiment is that it’s about taking responsibility, setting a good example, and trying to be a good mentor for the benefit of a greater cause.
This Veterans Day, as we honor those who have served, Mark’s reflections remind us of the enduring values that veterans bring back to their communities—family, commitment, camaraderie, leadership, and a deep sense of service to others.
“Veterans Day is so important, because it puts service to the forefront without actual conflict to remind us of our military. Too often, we as a society take the military for granted until something happens. If there’s nothing going on, then you don’t hear anything about the military, right? But the reality is that people are still sacrificing.”
What does it mean to Mark when someone thanks him for his service? “I was stationed at Buckley AFB for a couple of years, and my dad was going through some health issues; we were at the hospital because he was having a procedure done. I was picking him up and I was in my military uniform. I pulled into the roundabout, and as I was getting out of my car, I saw an elderly gentleman slowly walking towards me, so I stopped. He probably was in his 80s, walking with a walker. He walked clear across the roundabout, just to come up to me and thank me for my service. Those are the kind of things that mean a lot.” Respect and a genuine thank you go a long way.
As a school, we are proud to have veterans among us and are committed to upholding the values they protect. Through their example, our students can learn what it means to serve, lead, and work together for the common good. Being in service is inherently empathetic—you have to care about the country and others. You have to be willing to give up everything for the brothers or sisters next to you, and they have to know and trust that you will.
If you see Mark on campus, I encourage you all to ask him about his military travels, ways his service helped him with being introverted, and how it is currently helping him form a bond with his son. One interesting fact: Mark joined the Navy and at the time could not swim!
At CA we want to challenge our students and teach them that uncomfortable situations are good—Mark is proof of that philosophy. Thank you, Mark, for 22 years of service, and thank you to all our veterans for your inspiration and selflessness.