Mark Hamilton Landes was born in Kingsport, Tennessee in May 1968, a son of Junior H. Landes II and Rebecca Linn (Davidson) Landes.[2][3][4][5] He was raised and educated in Kingsport, and is a 1986 graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School.[6] While in high school, Landes played basketball, was a member of the cross-country and track and field teams, and was a member of the Key Club and National Honor Society.[7]
Landes' initial assignments included postings to Germany, Hawaii, and Dahlonega, Georgia.[10] He served in one of the first units to employ the Stryker combat vehicle and helped validate the newly formed Stryker concept for combined arms fighting.[10] He also served as an instructor at the Australian School of Infantry.[10]
In 2007, Landes was assigned to command 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, which he led during operations in the Diyala Governorate as part of the Iraq War troop surge of 2007.[10] After completing his command tour, he was assigned to the Operations Group at the Fort Polk Joint Readiness Training Center.[10] Following his promotion to colonel, he was appointed to command 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.[10] He led the brigade during its 2011 deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, including operations in the provinces of Logar, Wardak, and Bamyan provinces.[10]
In June 2024, Landes was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and appointment as commanding general of the First United States Army.[12][13] The promotion and assignment were effective in August, and he officially assumed command in a ceremony held on September 6, 2024.[14]