Meet Mark Lennon of Polar Spark

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Lennon.

Hi Mark, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story is one that evolved with no plan, yet ultimately worked out. I have never chased a particular career or vision of happiness life. I have simply pursued things that seemed interesting, said yes more than no, and worked harder than most.
I studied Japanese in both undergrad and grad school, and lacking any particular direction upon graduation, I decided go into the US Navy as an Intelligence Officer, and spent the next 4 years as a Japanese-speaking liaison to the Japan Defense Agency. Having completed that assignment and just gotten married, I decided I wanted to explore what the civilian world had to offer. This was during the big Dotcom boom in 2000 and I was offered a job with Deloitte as a consultant. I didn’t even know what a consultant was or what they did, but this ended up being a decision that would set out the path for the next 25 years. I focused on technology modernization for large government clients. For the next 15 years, I went to work for a couple other large consulting firms doing the same kind of thing. During this period, I also went back into the Navy Reserves and was called up to deploy with SEAL Team 7 to Iraq. This was another pivotal experience for me and I spent the next 14 months mobilized to active duty.

In 2019, a friend and fellow Navy Reservist asked me if I would be interested in going to work for Apple, which was standing up a new business unit focused on Government. It was during this time that a then little known President from Ukraine came to visit Apple, Volodomyr Zelensky. This started a relationship with the Ukrainian government that has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. While I initially was focused on exploring ways that Apple could support Ukraine’s rapid government digitization efforts, the start of the war with Russia changed all that. I had worked for several years in my Navy Reservist capacity for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in Silicon Valley and because of that experience, I was asked by Ukraine shortly after the outset of the war if I would help them set up a similar organization to accelerate the use of commercial technology (e.g. drones) to fight the war. For the last 4 years I have volunteered time and effort to continue to find ways to help Ukraine, whether that is advising on defense innovation, or introducing US-based companies to Ukraine’s rapidly growing defense technology ecosystem.

I just departed Qualcomm as Vice President of Global Defense Strategy and am in the process of setting up my own advisory firm focused on digital transformation in government, as well as supporting venture capital-backed companies learn how to break into the global defense market.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has been the opposite of smooth. After 20 years of marriage, I was divorced and a father of two teenage boys. I’ve been fired from a job (my one stint in government services as an appointee of Governor Jerry Brown) and struggled to find a life of purpose while raising two boys. I’ve been to war and seen all of the horribleness associated with that. And most importantly, I’ve failed at many things but found ways to keep moving forward. A favorite quote of mine from a Rocky movie: “life is not all sunshine and rainbows. It will beat you to your knees and leave you there permanently if you let. But life isn’t about hard you can hit – it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take, and keep moving forward”

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I founded Polar Spark and Polar Spark Defense. Polar Spark helps governments globally with digital transformation, particularly given the rapid adoption of AI we are seeing in the commercial sector. The playbook for how governments serve citizens is being rewritten and Polar Spark advises government leaders on not just the technology but also how organizations need to evolve their workforce and processes to meet the needs of an increasingly digitally sophisticated population.

Polar Spark Defense is broadly focused on helping venture capital backed technology companies learn how to compete for and win defense contracts. I am also involved with creating a bridge between Ukrainian defense tech companies and US investors and partners. Ukraine has rewritten the playbook on warfare and developed some truly unique and unparalleled solutions on the battlefield.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I meditate. I was introduced to meditation by a therapist about 3 years ago. I have always been a fairly high-strung, intense person and while that can be useful in some settings, I felt I needed to make some changes in my life and learn how to be more present, both for myself and my kids. I meditate every morning and it’s taught me how everything from how to enjoy a moment to how to react in a difficult, pressure-filled situation.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lennon-3055101/

Image Credits
Marina Shkolnik Photography for the headshot.