Mark Sallada is a Pennsylvania native and an adventurous entrepreneur who has always had an interest in the first responder world. He is currently a K9 Officer with the Highspire Police Department as well as a successful business owner and Chief of Special Unit 66 Search and Rescue.
Mark has been the Chief of Special Unit 66 since founding the team in 2014. When approached by Lebanon County Emergency Management to discuss search resources, Mark founded “Sallada Search and Rescue,” but it quickly grew into Special Unit 66, a team that is successful, growing, and recognized all over the commonwealth for helping to find lost loved ones.
With a strong background in vehicle mechanics and sales, time as a firefighter, and becoming a police officer 2006, Mark saw a need for a service to build and provide police and emergency service vehicles. This led him to create what is now known as 911 Rapid Response, as well as Mark.It Graphics, Just Box.It, and Vengeant Apparatus. 911 Rapid Response and it’s divisions now has over 35 employees and builds more than 400 emergency vehicles per year for use around the world.
As a K9 handler, Mark currently has two dogs, Krypto and Neeka. Krypto is an eleven year old male German Shepherd with thirteen finds over his career. Neeka is a two year old female German Shepherd who has recently begun her career as a trailing dog.
Family is very important to Mark, he is a father of three children, two girls and one boy. He is a divorcee but in a relationship with a lovely woman and mother to two children who Mark treats as his own. Mark’s mother Joan works with him, and his father worked with him until his passing in 2019.
Mark has many accomplishments and awards, including the Medal of Valor and President’s Volunteer Service Award.
With his experience and expertise, we are thankful to have Mark as the Chief of Special Unit 66 Search and Rescue.