We Hire Heroes: An Interview with Mark Hutnan

9 November 2020
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Mark Hutnan

Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO)

United States Marine Corps


As the first installment in We Hire Heroes, I’d like to highlight Mark Hutnan, our Vice President of Business Development at Abaco Systems, Inc. who served in the United States Marine Corps. Thank you for your service, Mark.

Alisa: Can you tell us about your career in the military?

Mark: I spent 22 years in the United States Marine Corps. I was an Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) flying in the EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare / Electronic Attack Jet. I also spent significant time in special projects for Information Warfare, Signals Intelligence, & National Systems.

Alisa: Why did you come to work for Abaco?

Mark: I worked for Northrop Grumman, CACI and General Dynamics in my career, as a Program Manager and Business Development Leader, most programs I worked on were Services oriented, focused on putting people onto programs requiring developmental resources or cloud based services.

I came to work for Abaco because I immediately knew that I wanted to work with the outstanding leadership team that was being put in place and I really wanted to learn and focus on developing business for hardware and systems that I actually used during my time as a Marine Corps Aviator.

Alisa: Would you recommend Abaco to other veterans and why?

Mark: The culture at Abaco is more focused on supporting the warfighter than ever. We understand that the products we make improve survivability and lethality of the warfighter on the tip of the spear – that’s our focus and the more people with military experience we can bring on board, the more Abaco’s culture ultimately benefits.

Alisa: What is the most innovative or challenging thing you’ve done since you’ve been here?

Mark: I’ve been able to implement from scratch a business development team and process for Abaco. I’m extremely honored to have the opportunity to do this and to adapt and grow this process for Abaco over time.

Alisa: How has the leadership principles you learned while serving benefitted you at Abaco?

Mark: Basic principles of mutual respect and support carry on through all phases of life. At Abaco, I’ve tried to provide my team with the tools, guidance and support they need to be successful. I’m team oriented and extremely collaborative – I want to lead from the front, understanding that as a team, we are all in this together and we are stronger together than as individual parts.

Alisa: What one thing did you learn while you were in service that you carry with you through life?

Mark: Attention to detail in all you do is a worthy endeavor. We all know that no plan “survives contact with the enemy” – or in our business – “prepare for the unexpected”. If you plan accordingly, then it’s easier to adapt, overcome and improvise as needed.

Working for Abaco is the best job I’ve ever had – I love the people, the mindset and the opportunity to make a difference. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve our team, our customers, and our military as I continue in my career.

Alisa Coffey

Alisa is Head of Marketing at Abaco, having joined us at the beginning of 2020 from Siemens, where she was responsible for aerospace, defense and federal marketing.  She graduated magna cum laude from Louisiana State University and Mechanical College.