One Night. One Mission.
A LIFETIME OF VALOR
Meet Mark "Oz" Geist
The Man Behind the Mission
Meet Mark "Oz" Geist – The Man Behind the Mission
Bestselling co-author of 13 Hours, decorated security and military consultant, and the hero credited with saving 25 lives during the Benghazi attack. His story is more than history—it’s a testament to bravery, sacrifice, and leadership.
About
MARK “OZ” GEIST
Mark “Oz” Geist is a member of the Annex Security Team that fought the Battle of Benghazi, Libya, from September 11 to September 12, 2012. A Colorado native, Mr. Geist joined the United States Marine Corps in 1984. During his time in the service, he served in Barracks Duty in the Philippines, then with the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines Golf Company, as well as the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon. He then was chosen to serve in the newly formed Marine Cadre program as an Anti-/Counter- Terrorism Instructor. Upon the completion of a very successful tour and re-enlistment, Mr. Geist changed his military occupational specialty to the Intelligence field, specializing in Interrogation Translation. He attended language school where he studied Persian Farsi.
After serving 12 years in the United States Maine Corps, Mr. Geist became a Deputy Sheriff in Teller County, Colorado. In that role, he was assigned as liaison with the Vice Narcotics and Intelligence Unit in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as an Investigator for Crimes against Children. Certified as a Forensic Interviewer of children, he investigated numerous case of abuse in which he helped to secure convictions of the perpetrators. He then took a job as Chief of Police in Fowler, Colorado. After leaving the Fowler Police Department, Mr. Geist began his own business in private investigations as well as bounty hunting and bail bonds.
In 2004, Mr. Geist began doing contract security work in Iraq. He worked for Triple Canopy, providing Personal Security Details for Department of State personnel in Baquba, Iraq. Upon the completion of that contract he worked for USIS, the United States Investigative Services, training Iraqi SWAT teams and Personal Security Details. He also served as a mentor/advisor to the Personal Security Detail of Dr. Ayad Allawi, the former Prime Minister of Iraq.
Mr. Geist finished his career as a security contractor in Benghazi, Libya, where he was credited with helping to save the lives of more than 25 Americans. Mr. Geist is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in the battle. He is a co-author of the bestselling book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi.
mark "oz" geist
most powerful moments captured on video
Shadow Warriors Project Dog Demo
13 Hours Trailer
WSF Key Note: Oz Geist
stories that matter
March 14 2025
Half a million unaccompanied minors have entered the United States in just four years. Let that number sink in. Five hundred thousand children, many without parents or guardians, crossing our borders since 2019. As someone who has dedicated my life to protecting the vulnerable—first as a Marine, then in law enforcement investigating crimes against children, and now leading Shadow Warriors Project—I find this statistic not just alarming, but morally unconscionable.
March 15 2025
When a contractor returns home from serving in hostile territory, they often bring back invisible wounds. The nightmares, hypervigilance, and crushing anxiety don't show up on medical scans, but they're devastatingly real. At Shadow Warriors Project, we've witnessed a powerful antidote to this suffering: a service dog with soulful eyes and unwavering loyalty.
PTS Day is a day when we remember those who served and came home with those injuries we don’t see. Text SHADOW to 91999 to donate. Help us help them!
March 16 2025
I've handled firearms in some of the world's most dangerous places. From my time as a Marine to my years as a security contractor protecting American personnel overseas, I've learned one truth: a weapon is only as responsible as the person wielding it. That's why when I see legislation like Washington State's House Bill 1163, I can't help but wonder if lawmakers understand what they're actually doing to law-abiding citizens.
mark "oz" geist
13 hours in benghazi
THE BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE FILM
The harrowing, true account from the brave men on the ground who fought back during the Battle of Benghazi.
13 HOURS presents, for the first time ever, the true account of the events of September 11, 2012, when terrorists attacked the US State Department Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA station called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya. A team of six American security operators fought to repel the attackers and protect the Americans stationed there. Those men went beyond the call of duty, performing extraordinary acts of courage and heroism, to avert tragedy on a much larger scale. This is their personal account, never before told, of what happened during the thirteen hours of that now-infamous attack.
13 HOURS sets the record straight on what happened during a night that has been shrouded in mystery and controversy. Written by New York Times bestselling author Mitchell Zuckoff, this riveting book takes readers into the action-packed story of heroes who laid their lives on the line for one another, for their countrymen, and for their country.
13 HOURS is a stunning, eye-opening, and intense book–but most importantly, it is the truth. The story of what happened to these men–and what they accomplished–is unforgettable.