Flying for Uncle Sam
Story by Jordan Schwartz
Mark Popowicz is training to pilot Black Hawk helicopters Mark Popowicz was just eight years old when he figured out what he wanted to do with his life. In 1988, his parents took him to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in Manhattan and he’s been fascinated by military machinery every since. Two decades later, Popowicz, 28, is living at Ft. Rucker in Alabama, where he is attending flight school, learning to fly Black Hawk helicopters. Mark grew up on Kensington Ave., not far from the Clifton Commons in Delawanna, with his parents Diane and Joseph and his older brother Matthew. He attended School 8 and Christopher Columbus before going to Clifton High. At CHS, Popowicz played on the soccer team and was involved in the ski club. He was also a good student, as noted by his invitation
to the New Jersey Boys State Foundation’s mock government program at Rider University. After graduating Seton Hall University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Popowicz decided to join the Army. “I had always wanted to do something with the military, so I figured this was the time,” he said. Popowicz was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He was branched Field Artillery and sent to the Officer Basic course in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. The Class of ’98 grad then chose to attend Ranger School in Ft. Benning, Georgia to learn advance Infantry patrolling tactics, before being sent to South Korea for his first assignment in October 2003. Upon his return a year later, Popowicz was stationed at Fort
Deanna and Mark Popowicz enjoying a night out. The couple moved to Alabama this past January, so Mark could attend flight school at Fort Rucker. 78
August 2008 • Clifton Merchant
Army Capt. Mark Popowicz in combat gear and in his 1998 graduation picture.
Bragg, NC for additional training, before being shipped to the Middle East with the 82nd Airborne Div. While serving overseas, the Cliftonite was promoted to Captain, but after some time as a Field Artillery Cpt., he elected to become a helicopter pilot. “I’ve always wanted to fly,” said Popowicz. “It didn’t work out at first, but I did my time and I got accepted.” After marrying his wife Deanna in June 2007, the military man and his bride moved to Alabama this past January so Popowicz could start flight school. The Clifton boy says he wants to move back north after completing school next year, but he doesn’t have long-term plans beyond that. “I’m going to stick to flying for a while,” he said.