Mario was born and raised in Brunswick, graduating from Brunswick High School in 1988. Days after graduation, he left for Marine Corps Recruit Training at Parris Island, SC. Upon completion of recruit training and infantry school, he began his service in the United States Marine Corps Reserves with Headquarters & Service Company, 3D Battalion, 25TH Marines. While serving in the reserves, Mario began pursuing his undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University. After being mobilized and serving on active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Mario gained acceptance into the Marine Corps Officer Candidate Program. In 1994, he graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College and accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant. Mario then began law school at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, while continuing to serve with 3D Battalion, 25TH Marines.

After graduating from law school and passing the bar exam in 1997, Mario left for Quantico, Virginia to attend The Basic School, an intense six-month course that all Marine officers must complete to hone their skills to become leaders of Marines. After graduating first in his platoon from TBS, he went on to attend and complete Naval Justice School in Newport, RI, before beginning his service as a Marine judge advocate at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. During this time, Mario served as the Base Administrative Law Officer and Ethics Advisor; prosecutor; and deployed twice as the Staff Judge Advocate for two Marine Air-Ground Task Forces. Mario also met his wife, Karen, while stationed in Hawaii, where the two were eventually married.

After leaving active duty in 2002, Mario and Karen moved to Florida to be close to his parents and sisters. While in Florida, he began working for an insurance defense law-firm, before becoming an Assistant State Attorney in Martin County, Florida. He also continued to serve in the Marine Corps reserves as the Staff Judge Advocate for 4TH Assault Amphibian Battalion in Tampa, FL.

In December of 2004, Mario was mobilized again, this time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After returning from overseas, Mario and Karen decided to move back home to Ohio in December of 2005, settling in Montville Township, where they currently reside with their son, Samuel. Mario is currently an attorney for Reminger Co., LPA in Youngstown, Ohio. In August of 2006, Mario was promoted to the rank of Major, and is currently serving as the Commanding Officer for H&S Company, 3D Battalion, 25TH Marines.