Mark Mandelkern, K5AM, got his first ham license, W9ECV, in 1948, at age 14. Mark's main ham operating activity is 6 meter DX, with 138 countries worked. He also enjoys HF DXing and contesting, with DXCC confirmed on 10 bands, and a number of top-ten contest awards. Mandelkern is an emeritus professor of mathematics at New Mexico State University.