Veteran Spotlight: Mark Pryor
- By: Claire Kenney
- Last Updated: March 4, 2026
Northwest Indiana native Mark Pryor served in the United States Army between 1994 and 1997. He left Valparaiso just after high school for nearly four years of military service. Pryor served both stateside and overseas.
“I was in the Army for three and a half years,” said Pryor. “I served as part of 11 Bravo, the 101st Airborne Division in the third Brigade and third Battalion, and the 187 Infantry Regiment. I did basic training at Fort Benning, airborne school at Fort Benning, and then Air Assault school at Fort Campbell.
His international military experience included a deployment to Africa.
“I completed one deployment to the MFO in Sinai, Egypt,” said Pryor.
Today, he’s back in Valparaiso raising a family with his wife. His wife is also from the area.
“What I love most about the area is the sense of community and small-town feeling, but it’s close to Chicago, Michigan, etc.,” said Pryor. “I grew up here, my wife grew up here, and we are raising our children here. There’s a sense of history and pride in our city and in nearby Union Township.”
The couple has two boys, and Pryor loves watching them grow up in Valparaiso.
“We have two boys, Markus, age 9, and Sam, age 6,” said Pryor. “I’m grateful to now be raising my children in the same place that shaped me.”
Pryor currently works at Solventum as a Senior Technical Program Manager and has been with the company for over five years. Pryor earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and has also worked at iWT Health, Notifi Health, HIT Applications Solutions, Siemens, and Alverno Information Systems.
Serving out of state and overseas helped Pryor appreciate Valparaiso in a different way. He does not take for granted what is offered to him.
“My family was in Valparaiso and Union Township while I was serving,” said Pryor. “Living away from the area during my time in the service made me appreciate what we have here in Valpo and Union Township.”
Pryor’s hobbies include athletics, reading, and time with family.
“My hobbies are spending time with my family, reading, watching my kids’ sporting events, and cheering on the Bears and Blackhawks,” he said.
Pryor’s service meant sacrificing for others and his country. However, serving also gave a lot to him.
“I gained life experiences that I likely wouldn’t have obtained any other way,” he said. “It forced me to grow up at 18 by instilling discipline, resilience, and perspective. I was able to use the GI Bill to attend college when I returned home to pursue higher education, further shaping my future, and also utilize the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program.”
Pryor was a dedicated member of the military. Now he’s back in Valparaiso, dedicated to his community, family, and work. His time away in the army undoubtedly shaped his ability to lead locally in these ways. He has a legacy of leadership that crosses many facets of his life.
