About Mark R. Clifford
Mark R. Clifford is a proud fourth-generation San Franciscan and the second-born in an Irish Catholic family of seven, making him a self-declared expert in the pseudoscience of birth order characteristics.
Clifford’s life has been a relentless pursuit of service and adventure. He served in the Marine infantry for ten years and as a Police Officer for over a quarter-century. In the Marines, Mark rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received Special Operations training while attached to the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa and was operating in the Philippines in 1991 during the historic eruption of Mount Pinatubo. His law enforcement career was equally eclectic. He rose to the sergeant’s rank and served in many assignments to include SWAT and undercover narcotics. In his retirement, Mark mentors veterans transitioning to civilian life at musician Zac Brown’s Camp Southern Ground.
As an author, Clifford channels his firsthand experiences into gripping narratives, which lend authenticity to his craft. His story has appeared in the San Jose Mercury, Contra Costa Times, Military Experience & The Arts magazine, The Manila Times, San Leandro Times, Diablo Gazette, Lamorinda Weekly, and top tier finisher in the Napa Valley Writers prose contest.
Clifford’s writing is praised for its vivid imagery and engaging narratives, drawing comparisons to classics like “Stand by Me” and “Heart of Darkness”. Return with Mark to Pinatubo’s crater in Return to The Devil’s Sea—his next novel promises to be his most daring yet…
Associations & Memberships
Charities and Causes
Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military & veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital.
These homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world.
Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room, and an inviting living room.
The mission of Camp Southern Ground is to provide extraordinary experiences for individuals to recognize and magnify the unique gifts within themselves and others to profoundly impact the world.
Camp Southern Ground stretches across more than 400 acres of land in Fayetteville, Georgia, about 30 miles south of Atlanta. During summer months, kids ages 7-17 are hosted for week-long, inclusive, residential camps, bringing together typically developing children, children with neurodevelopmental differences, underserved kids, and kids from military families.