Mark Green (Tennessee politician)

Mark Green is an American politician from the state of Tennessee. He is a member of the Tennessee Senate and the Republican Party. Prior to running for office, Green was a member of United States Army Special Operations. He served as a medic in Operation Red Dawn, which saw the capture of Saddam Hussein.

Military career
Green graduated from West Point Academy in 1986. From 1987 through 1990, Green was stationed at Fort Knox as an US Army Infantry Officer. At Fort Knox Green served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, and Battalion S-1Adjutant. Green returned to Fort Benning, GA for advanced infantry officer training and to attend the US Army Jump master Course. He later served with the 82nd Airborne Division as a Rifle Company Commander and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as an emergency medicine physician. Green's last assignment in the army was as the commander of the Fort Campbell, KY Hospital's Emergency Department. To start his career in the private sector, Green turned down promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and a prestigious selection to attend the Army Command and General Staff School, an honor given to few physicians.

Green decided to become a doctor after his father spent 45 days in an intensive care unit. He obtained his medical degree from the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in 1999. He completed his residency in emergency medicine in 2002. He then served as a medic in the United States Army Rangers, including tours of duty in the Afghanistan War and Iraq War. He was the special operations flight surgeon during Operation Red Dawn, the military operation that captured Saddam Hussein. Green sat with Hussein for the first 24 hours of his capture, and interrogated him for six hours. Following his military service, he authored a book, titled A Night With Saddam, detailing the capture of Hussein and the medical care Green administered.

Green left the military in 2006. For his service, Green won the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal, the Air Medal, the Combat Medical Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Flight Surgeon Badge.

Civilian career
Green founded and served as chief executive officer of Align MD, a hospital staffing company. He was first elected to the Tennessee Senate in 2012, defeating Democratic incumbent Tim Barnes. He may challenge Lamar Alexander in the 2014 U.S. Senate election.

Personal
Green and his wife, Camie, reside in Ashland City, Tennessee. They have two children.