LT CDR Mardo, a resident of the seaside resort Pärnu, a fresh graduate from high school, joined the Estonian Centre of Maritime Education in 1989. Four years later, after receiving a bridge watch officer’s certificate, completed hydrographic surveyor training in US and worked in the National Hydrographic Office until joining Estonian Navy as a conscript in 1998. My career in Estonian Navy started in 2000 when was appointed on a position of Navigation Officer on board ENS Wambola. In 2002 joined Belgium/Netherlands Mine Countermeasures School for Mine Warfare training. In December 2002 took over command of ENS Wambola and handed over the platform command in November 2005, prior joining the Estonian Sandown-class Minehunter acquisition programme for next three and half years. After the acceptance of the last Estonian platform in March 2009 joined with Navy’s planning department. In autumn 2013 I was transferred back to Mine  countermeasures (MCM) Squadron with purpose to initiate and manage minehunters MCM capability upgrade programme. Upgrade programme contract with prime contractor was signed in fall 2015 and it provided an opportunity to be once again on-scene coordinator in Babcock Dockyard during equipment installation and delivery period from June 2018 to January 2020. In August 2020 appointed to position of junior researcher in resource management group of Estonian Defence Academy. Since then, been involved with studies and conducting research related with life cycle costing. From early fall 2023 I was appointed on a position of a staff officer of Analyzing and Planning Department of Estonian JHQ. Recently applied on a position of Ground, Air and Naval platforms category manager of national procurement agency (Estonian Center of Defense Investment).

As family lives in Pärnu, the weekend commuting between home and office still ongoing with a slight variation – calm and lovely university town Tartu is now replaced with busy Tallinn. Spare time is spent on a Sheltie, mountain biking, swimming and reading Nordic Noir.