Rear Admiral Marcus Frederick Bonser, AO, CSC (born 7 August 1952) is a retired flag rank officer of the Royal Australian Navy. His final posting was as Head of the Military Justice Implementation Team for the Australian Defence Force.
Mark Bonser | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 August 1952 Sydney, New South Wales |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service | Royal Australian Navy |
| Years of service | 1971–2008 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands | Australian Defence College (2004–06) Commander Australian Theatre (2002–04) Northern Command (1999–01) HMAS Anzac (1997–99) HMAS Sydney (1992–93) HMAS Aware (1979–82) |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War Gulf War Iraq War |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Cross Commendation for Distinguished Service |
Early life
editMark Bonser was born in Sydney on 7 August 1952.[1][2] He attended high school at Manly Boys High School and Macksville High School.[3]
Naval career
editIn 1971, Bonser joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and commenced training at the Royal Australian Naval College.[3] He graduated from the college in 1973, then undertook six weeks training with the Royal Navy, before joining the ship's company of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne.[3] Bonser completed his bridge watchkeeping certification aboard the carrier.[3] Over the following years, he served aboard HMA Ships Advance, Duchess, Jervis Bay, and Diamantina.[3] From 1980 until 1982, Bonser served as the commanding officer of the patrol boat HMAS Aware.[1]
In 1982, after a short period aboard Tobruk, Bonser was sent to the United Kingdom for Principal Warfare Officer training.[3] After qualifying as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer in 1983, Bonser served on exchange to the Royal Navy until 1985 as an officer aboard the destroyers HMS Antrim, then HMS Glamorgan.[1][3] On his return to Australia, Bosner was first posted to the destroyer HMAS Perth, then to HMAS Torrens as the destroyer escort's executive officer.[3] While aboard Torrens, he was promoted to the rank of commander.[3] In 1988, Bonser was assigned to Maritime Headquarters Sydney in the positions of Fleet Programming Officer and Commander Operations.[3]
In 1990, Bonser was attached to the ship's company of HMAS Brisbane as the Chief Staff Officer to the RAN Task Group Commander during the ship's deployment to the Gulf War.[3] He was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service for his actions during the deployment.[3] After returning from the Persian Gulf in 1991, Bonser attended the Joint Services Staff College.[1]
From April 1992 until 1993, Bonser was the commanding officer of the frigate HMAS Sydney.[3] During this period, Sydney was deployed to the Red Sea in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.[3] During 1994, Bonser was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for this deployment, and in December, he was promoted to captain.[1][3] After promotion, Bonser was posted to Maritime Headquarters again; initially as Chief Staff Officer Operations, then serving as the Chief Staff Officer C3I.[3] In January 1996, he transferred to the Australian Defence Force Headquarters as the Director Combat Force Development (Sea).[3]
From October 1997 to mid-1999, Bonser was the commanding officer of the frigate HMAS Anzac.[1][3] In July 1999, Bonser was promoted to commodore and assigned as Commander Northern Command.[3] At the start of 2001, Bonser became the Director General Command and Support Systems in the Defence Materiel Organisation.[3] Bonser was promoted to rear admiral in July 2001, and assigned as Director General of Coastwatch.[3] In June 2002, he was appointed Commander Australian Theatre.[3] In 2003, Bonser was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his leadership during the invasion of Iraq.[1][3]
From May 2004 to January 2006, Bonser was the Commander Australian Defence College.[3] During this period, he was appointed on 7 October 2005 as head of the Military Justice Response Coordination Team, then later that year as head of the Military Justice Implementation Team.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Marcus Frederick Bonser". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ "Bonser, Marcus Frederick". Vietnam War Nominal Roll. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Rear Admiral Mark Bonser AO, CSC, RAN". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.