Mark Lester – Senior Associate
“There are two things I like best about Booz Allen: The variety of work, and its stewardship of the community,” says Senior Associate Mark Lester. He works primarily in the firm’s defense sector, supporting the military and intelligence community with his expertise in program management, proposal development, and space systems.
Mark Lester
“Project variety allows you to experience a lot of different industries and problems; just when one assignment starts becoming routine, you’re presented with new challenges to be conquered. And it’s important to me that Booz Allen has a commitment to make the communities in which we work thrive and succeed.”
Mark knows something about community service: He was named a 2007 Rising Star by the Colorado Springs Business Journal for his substantial contributions to his profession and community. He received Booz Allen’s Values in Practice (VIP) and Impact and Involvement Awards, honoring individuals who demonstrate core values and exemplary community volunteerism. He also holds numerous military recognitions and medals from his service in the U.S. Air Force.
He says, “Booz Allen’s volunteer service grants are a great way to encourage involvement and embody the firm’s employee-centric approach to philanthropy.” He was especially pleased when his Colorado Springs office received the Pikes Peak Coalition of Chambers’ Diversity Award in 2005. “We were nominated by a local nonprofit for the richness of our internal diversity initiatives as well as our strong community involvement and leadership of a city-wide diversity initiative.”
Mark’s service-oriented interests extend beyond career-related efforts. He is president of the board of trustees for Leadership Pikes Peak, an organization that has developed more than 1,000 community leaders over its 30-year history. He is also a graduate of the “50 for Colorado” program, which introduced him to the business, government, and economic environment of Colorado. “We traveled 1,000 feet underground to see a working mine, visited with Vail’s city manager to understand tourism, and toured hydroelectric plants on the Colorado River to learn about renewable energy and water rights,” he explains.
Career Development Opportunities
Booz Allen’s support plays a vital role in enabling Mark to balance personal interests and passions with a rewarding career. He continues to build his skills on projects that range from managing a large performance-based competitive contract for a military client, to leadership roles on federal government proposals.
“My favorite assignment was developing new technologies for a U.S. defense agency,” he said. “I led analysis across three companies and multiple geographies and assisted in writing key deliverables. The task involved over 1,000 technologies in nine diverse areas ranging from weapons, to communications, to protection systems. The results were tangible and hands-on, and the work we did had a clear impact on the decisions the client was making.”
Prior to joining Booz Allen, Mark was an officer in the Air Force assigned to space and intelligence operations; he was also deployed overseas for military operations such as the implementation of the Bosnian Dayton Peace Accord and humanitarian aid missions. He has a master’s degree from the University of Colorado and a B.S. from Norwich University.
“Booz Allen taught me to value the collaboration and sharing of ideas,” he says. “Our greatest strength as a firm comes from sharing knowledge through mentoring, coaching, or teaching. This is also true when you exchange knowledge within the nonprofit sector to make an impact in our communities. When you share your expertise, your capability multiplies.”
profile posted May 2007
