- Mark Bonser
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Rear Admiral Mark Bonser, AO, CSC, RAN is a flag rank officer in the Royal Australian Navy, and since October 2005, Head of the Military Justice Implementation Team for the Australian Defence Force.
Contents
Early years
Marcus Frederick Bonser was born 7 August 1952 in Sydney, where he was educated at Manly Boys High School and Macksville High School.
Bonser began his military career as a Cadet Midshipman at the RAN College, HMAS Creswell in 1971, then had initial sea training in HMA Ships Parramatta, Duchess, Sydney (III) and Vampire. Included in this initial sea training was a deployment in support of Australian forces in Vietnam.
After various postings as a Seaman officer, in 1982, he served in HMAS Tobruk for a short period, before commencing Principal Warfare Officer training in the UK. After qualifying as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, he completed two and a half years exchange service in HM Ships Antrim and Glamorgan, before returning to Australia for duty as the ASW and Operations Officer in HMAS Perth. He next served as Executive Officer of HMAS Torrens, from where he was selected for promotion to Commander.
In 1988-1990 he was posted to Maritime Headquarters in Sydney as the Fleet Programming Officer and Commander Operations, and posted to HMAS Brisbane, as the Chief Staff Officer to the RAN Task Group Commander during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. He was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service in recognition of his performance in this warlike operation. Following Joint Services Staff College in 1991, he commanded the guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney from April 1992 until the end of 1993. Sydney completed a successful operational deployment to the North Red Sea in support of United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iraq, for which he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross.
Bonser studied law and has had an ongoing involvement in the implementation of legal practice in the RAN and the Australian Defence Force.
Career summary
1971 entered RAN College[1] 1973 received training with the RN in UK 1974-1980 HMAS Melbourne, Advance, Duchess, Jervis Bay and Diamantina 1980-1982 Commanding Officer HMAS Aware 1982 Principal Warfare Officer couse in UK 1983-1985 on exchange with RN in HMS Antrim and HMS Glamorgan 1985-1988 served in HMAS Perth and HMAS Torrens (as Executive Officer) 1988 promoted to Commander 1988-1990 Commander Operations at Maritime HQ, Sydney 1990-1991 served in HMAS Brisbane as Chief Staff Officer to the RAN Task Group Commander during Gulf War 1991 attended Joint Services Staff College 1992-1993 Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney[2] 1994 promoted to Captain 1993-1995 Chief Staff Officer Operations at Maritime HQ
Chief Staff Officer C3I at Maritime HQ1996-1997 Director Combat Force Development (Sea), HQ ADF, Canberra 1997-1999 Commanding Officer HMAS Anzac[3] 1999 promoted to Commodore 1999-2000 Commander Northern Command 2001 Director-General Command & Support Systems, Defence Materiel Organisation 2001 2001 promoted to Rear Admiral[4] 2001-2002 Director-General Coastwatch, Australian Customs Service 2002-2004 Commander Australian Theatre 2004-2006 Commander Australian Defence College 2005 Head Military Justice Response Coordination Team 2005-now Head of Military Justice Implementation Team Honours and awards
- 2003 AO
- 1994 CSC
- 1990-1991 Meritorious Unit Citation and Commendation for Distinguished Service
References and notes
- ^ RAN College
- ^ HMAS Sydney
- ^ HMAS Anzac
- ^ New Two-star appointments for Defence, 6 July 2001, Department of Defence Media Release PACC 238/01. Accessed 30 April 2011.
External links
- Rear Admiral Mark Bonser AO, CSC, RAN, biography, accessed 27 December 2009
- RAN Bio, accessed 30 April 2011
Categories:- Royal Australian Navy admirals
- Living people
- Australian military personnel stubs
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