Having grown up as a military dependent, Mark McCandlish manifested an  interest in aircraft and other modes of transportation from an early age.  This interest was augmented by an artistic and mechanical ability that initially grew out of an interest in dinosaurs, fossils and  science.

    As a teenager, this interest 'shifted' to cars, (no pun intended) and Mark decided that he wanted to become a designer for General Motors.  He soon discovered that attending one of the premier automotive design curriculums offered at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California was not going to be possible on the minimum wage of the early 1970's.   So, he headed off to join the U.S. Air Force, and take advantage of the G.I. Bill, eventually passing through electronics school at Lowery AFB in Denver, Colorado. Then on to his permanent duty station, McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington.

    While at McChord AFB, he performed repairs on and bore-sighted the infrared and radar-based MA-1 and ASQ-25 weapons control systems of the F-106 Delta Dart with the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.