Mark Wayne Underwood
Email: pgc2009@vatemplars.com
Right Eminent Grand Commander
2009-2010

Mark Wayne Underwood was born on June 4, 1959, in Radford, Virginia, and is the son of Hensel L. Underwood (PM of Henry Clay Lodge No. 280) and Erma W. Underwood. He was educated in Pulaski County public schools and graduated summa cum laude from New River Community College, where he earned an A.A.S in Electronic Technology and Communications. At Virginia Tech and Marymount University he majored in Electrical Engineering and Computer Programming.

Sir Knight Underwood came to the Northern Virginia area in December 1985 to work as a hardware and software engineer for E-Systems, Melpar Division, which later became a division of Raytheon Systems Company. After 12 years he went to work for ORBCOMM as the program manager of their international department and traveled around the world for nearly 5 years overseeing the building, installation, operations, and customer support of their satellite communication facilities. He was able to visit many different lodges and Masonic Bodies in the countries he worked and gained a perspective and appreciation of masonry outside of the United States. He currently works as a Manager for Federal Network Systems, a Verizon Company, for their Network/IT Security Division.

Mark’s Masonic career started with his raising in Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 on May 8, 1992. He became Worshipful Master of his lodge in 1996 and served as Archivist and LEO for many years. He is currently serving as an officer in several Masonic bodies, including Puissant Sovereign of St. Polycarp Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine: Very Eminent Preceptor of Nova Vita Tabernacle No.

LXXIII, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, and Chief Adept of Virginia College, Societas Rosicruciana In Civitatibus Foederatis. He is a Past Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons of the District of Columbia serving in 2005-2006. He is an active member of a number of other York Rite Bodies and has presided over many of them including, but not limited to, Excellent High Priest of Mt. Vernon Royal Arch Chapter no. 14 (DDGHP 2005-2006), Eminent Commander of Old Dominion Commandery No. 11, Illustrious Master of Triangle Council No. 3 (Cryptic Masonry – District of Columbia), Preeminent Governor of Washington and Lee York Rite College No. 93 (Recipient of the Order of the Purple Cross), and others not listed here because of space limitations. He received his Scottish Rite Degrees in the Fall of 1992 and was honored with the decoration of KCCH in 1997 for his work in the Scottish Rite. Brother Underwood has also been an active participant, prompter, and a cast member for several of the Scottish Rite Degrees over the years and has served for many years as the Degree Master for the 18 Degree. He served in 2005 as the Commander of the Alexandria Council of Kadosh. Mark enjoys his membership and involvement in several other organizations including AMD, The Philalethes Society, Knight Masons (Senior Warden, Virginia Council No. 12), Rose of Sharon Priory No. 2, Knights of the York Cross of Honour (KYGCH, 2 Quadrants), Royal Order of Scotland, Grand College of Rites, Royal Arch Research Chapter No. 1753, Scottish Rite Research Society, and A. Douglas Smith Lodge of Research No. 1949. His involvement and participation in Masonry extends worldwide and has been recognized by the Grande Loge Nationale Françoise (GLNF) as he is an Honorary Grand Junior Warden of the GLNF and is an Honorary Past Provincial Grand Master of Provence, France.

Sir Knight Underwood was elected to serve as Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar in Virginia on May 2, 2009, having been regularly advanced through all the preceding stations. His theme for the Chivalric year is “A Novus Peregrinus: A New Crusade”. His main focus and goals for the year are:

• Each Member to bring in ONE new member and mentor them
• Each Commandery to do ONE program/event together as a bonding exercise
• Each Member and Commandery to initiate new programs/collections for Eye Foundation

He has been decorated a Knight Commander of the Temple by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America and he received the Charles A. Grice Merit Award from the Grand Commandery of Virginia when he was Commander of Old Dominion Commandery No. 11..

Sir Knight Underwood married Sheila S. Dishon in October of 1991. They reside in Centreville, Virginia. Mark enjoys traveling around the world and learning about new cultures in his spare time.