Brendan Mullen was born and raised in South Bend, Ind., where he still resides. His father, Peter, has been involved in politics for years, serving as St. Joseph County auditor for two terms and previously as the South Bend city controller. Mullen attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he earned letters as a kicker on the football team and a bachelor's in systems engineering. He served five years as an Army officer, serving in Iraq and South Korea. Mullen then helped start and run a national and international security services firm. He is the chief executive officer of MKS2, a consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Suzanne, have a daughter. Brendan Mullen is a political newcomer who won the May 2012 Democratic primary with 54 percent of the vote.