Mark began playing trumpet as a young boy in Pennsylvania. Drafted while a freshman college music major, he entered the Navy music program at the very lowest rank: Seaman. Mark then embarked on a remarkable 31-year career as a Navy musician, vocalist, bandleader, educator, and officer. At his retirement in 2001, LCDR Hammond served as the Head of the Navy Music Program, commanding over 800 musicians deployed throughout the world in 15 bands. Today Mark enjoys living in Serra Mesa with wife Sheila and sons Michael and Robert, golf, playing trumpet and singing, and not being the bandleader for a change