Mark Aaron Mayo

A deep sense of duty and a commitment to protecting others defined the life of Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Mark Aaron Mayo, a 24-year-old Black man from Hagerstown, Maryland. Having enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 2007, he had dedicated six years to the Navy Security Forces, a role he fulfilled with courage and distinction. His colleagues remembered him for his positive attitude and his ability to keep everyone motivated and in high spirits, even while performing a demanding job. His family moved to Hagerstown from the Washington, D.C. area, and it was the Maryland city he called home.

The night of March 24, 2014, ended that promising life in an act of supreme heroism. Around 11:20 p.m., a civilian truck driver named Jeffrey Tyrone Savage, 35, gained unauthorized access to Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base. Driving a 2002 Freightliner, Savage was allowed through a gate without showing proper identification. He drove to Pier 1, left his idling truck, and boarded the USS Mahan, a guided-missile destroyer docked there. On the ship's quarterdeck, Savage was confronted by the Petty Officer of the Watch. A struggle broke out, and Savage managed to disarm the female sailor of her handgun.

Witnessing the altercation from the pier where he was serving as Chief of the Guard, Mayo did not hesitate. He rushed to help his fellow sailor. As Savage prepared to shoot the unarmed officer, Mayo shielded her with his own body. He was fatally shot, sacrificing his life to save hers. Responding Navy security forces immediately engaged Savage, who was shot and killed at the scene. An autopsy was later performed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

The investigation that followed, led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), revealed a series of profound security failures. Investigators determined that civilian police officers at the gate were "clearly negligent" in their duties, allowing Savage, who had no authorized reason to be on the base, to enter. Savage, an employee of a trucking company from Chesapeake, Virginia, had a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential, but this alone did not authorize base access. His criminal record included a 1998 conviction for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and a 2008 conviction for voluntary manslaughter in North Carolina. The investigation concluded there was no indication the attack was planned or linked to terrorism.

In the aftermath, disciplinary actions were taken against multiple individuals. The civilian security officer who allowed Savage to enter resigned. A night watch commander and another gate officer received suspensions without pay. The commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk and the station's security officer also faced administrative actions for the gross lack of procedural compliance and oversight that led to the tragedy.

For his extraordinary bravery, Mark Mayo was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest non-combat decoration for heroism awarded by the Department of the Navy. The award was presented to his family during a private ceremony before he was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on April 25, 2014. Capt. Robert E. Clark, Jr., the station's commanding officer, said, "Petty Officer Mayo's actions on Monday evening were nothing less than heroic. He selflessly gave his own life to ensure the safety of the Sailors on board USS Mahan."

In his hometown of Hagerstown, friends, family, and community members gathered for a candlelight memorial service at City Park to honor his memory. A memorial plaque was later unveiled at the Naval Technical Training Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, ensuring that future generations of Master-at-Arms students will know his story. His legacy is also honored through the MA2 Mark Aaron Mayo Foundation, a non-profit organization established in Hagerstown. As of May 2015, the Navy had implemented corrective security actions at all installations in the region, a direct result of the events that led to the loss of a selfless hero.