Mark W. Willis retired from the U.S. State Department in 2002 after a 26-year career working as  a diplomat, mostly engaged in Middle Eastern affairs. Born and raised in the Connecticut Valley, he has called Greenland, N.H. home since 2009. He has degrees in American history from Wesleyan University and American University and is now working on a historical research project dealing with anti-slavery politicians in 19th -century New Hampshire.