Mark Tyndall promoted to Brigadier General

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – During a ceremony held at the Tennessee National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville on August 1, Col. Mark Tyndall, Chief of the Joint Staff for the Tennessee National Guard, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in front of his family, friends, and fellow Soldiers.   

Held in the Hugh Mott building’s Hall of Flags, the ceremony was presided over by Tennessee’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Warner Ross.

“Mark is an experienced and talented leader, a valued member of our team, and will serve Tennessee well as its newest brigadier general,” said Ross. “Very few officers reach positions at this level, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor than him. I look forward to seeing what his future holds.”  

During the ceremony, Tyndall thanked everyone for their support throughout his 34-year career and was then promoted by Ross. Tyndall had his new rank pinned on by his wife Kim, and their two children, Katie and Jake. 

“I’m humbled by this great honor and to be here today,” said Tyndall. “This would never be possible if it wasn’t for all my family, friends, and fellow Soldiers who supported me over the years. I especially want to thank my wife who sacrificed so much whenever I was deployed or gone countless nights and weekends.”    

To be promoted to brigadier general and serve as Tennessee’s Director of the Joint Staff for the Tennessee National Guard, Tyndall was first approved by a federal officer recognition board, then confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.  

“Mark is a tested warrior,” said Ross. “His numerous assignments and deployments have prepared him well for this new level of responsibility. While serving as the Chief of the Joint Staff, he was at the forefront of our domestic support response as well as being the key planner on our state’s future missions.”

Tyndall, originally a native of Marion, South Carolina, first enlisted in the South Carolina National Guard in 1991 as a Stinger Missile Crewmember, attending basic training at Fort Jackson in 1992. Five years later he was commissioned through Clemson University’s ROTC program as an Infantry officer in 1996.

For the next 10 years, Tyndall served with the U.S. Army completing Ranger School, serving as a platoon leader and company executive officer for the 82nd Airborne Division, and deployed Albania and Kosovo. He was then assigned as the commander of Combined Support Combat Team 2 at Camp Walker in the Republic of South Korea. In 2002, Tyndall attended Special Forces training and then served as Executive Officer for Bravo Company with Fort Campbell’s 5th Special Forces Group. He then commanded Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 521, while also completing two deployments to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.   

In 2006, Tyndall left active-duty and joined the Tennessee National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Knoxville. Next, he served in numerous command and staff positions to include Regimental Plans Officer, Assistant Professor of Military Science at Tennessee Technological University, Commander of Dyersburg’s 168th Military Police Battalion, and Commander of Tullahoma’s 30th Troop Command. He also deployed two more times to Iraq. His most recent assignment was as the Tennessee National Guard Chief of the Joint Staff where he led the various staff sections for the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard.

During his career, Tyndall has also earned a master’s degree in Homeland Security from American Military University, and a Master of Strategic Studies form the U.S. Army War College.

Tyndall and his family currently live in Brentwood.