Mark Binskin
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
Mark Donald Binskin AO (b. 20 March 1960) is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force
, currently serving as Vice Chief of the Defence Force
. He previously served as Chief of Air Force from 2008 until 2011.
and grew up in Campbelltown, New South Wales
. He attend Campbelltown Public School. He completed secondary schooling at Hurlstone Agricultural High School
.
in May 1978 and on completion of flying training, was posted to fly A-4G Skyhawk
aircraft at Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross
.
In January 1982, he was selected as the first RAN pilot to undergo an exchange with the Royal Australian Air Force
, flying Mirage III
aircraft. On completion of this exchange, and with the disbanding of the Navy's fixed wing capability, he joined the RAAF in 1984.
Mark Binskin was the Commanding Officer of No. 77 Squadron
at Williamtown during the period 1998 and 1999, and later Commander of Air Combat Group
in 2004 until 2005.
Binskin's flying qualifications include Fighter Combat Instructor and Tactical Reconnaissance Pilot. Additionally, he has served as the RAAF F/A-18 Hornet
Demonstration Pilot, and in this position represented the RAAF throughout Australia
, Indonesia
, Malaysia, Singapore
and New Zealand
, and has over 3,500 hours in single-seat fighter aircraft. He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his performance in these two positions.
During Australia's 2003 contribution to the war in Iraq
, he served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Australian Theatre. Following this, he served as the first dedicated non-United States Air Force
Director of the US Central Air Force Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, where he was responsible for the conduct of all Coalition air operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (ADF Operations Catalyst and Slipper
). For his leadership capabilities in this appointment, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service
.
Binskin was appointed to the position of Air Commander Australia
on 26 July 2007. He assumed the position of Chief of the Air Force on 4 July 2008; upon assuming this appointment, he was promoted to Air Marshal
on 4 July 2008.
Binskin was appointed an Officer of the Order Of Australia in the 2010 Queens Birthday Honours List for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments. Binskin has additionally been honoured with Singapore
's Meritorious Service Medal
, and the Gugseon Medal of the Order of National Security Merit
from South Korea
.
On 1 June 2011, it was announced that Binskin would be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force
from 4 July for a term of three years in the Defence leadership change over.
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Air Marshal (Australia)
Air marshal is the second highest active rank of the Royal Australian Air Force and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Royal Air Force rank of air marshal, it is also considered a three-star rank...
Mark Donald Binskin AO (b. 20 March 1960) is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, currently serving as Vice Chief of the Defence Force
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
The Vice Chief of the Defence Force is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements....
. He previously served as Chief of Air Force from 2008 until 2011.
Early life
Binskin was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and grew up in Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
. He attend Campbelltown Public School. He completed secondary schooling at Hurlstone Agricultural High School
Hurlstone Agricultural High School
Hurlstone Agricultural High School is an agricultural and selective, co-educational, public high school, located in Glenfield, a south-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
Service history
Binskin joined the Royal Australian NavyRoyal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
in May 1978 and on completion of flying training, was posted to fly A-4G Skyhawk
A-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
aircraft at Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross
HMAS Albatross (air station)
HMAS Albatross, also known as Naval Air Station Nowra , is an airfield operated by the Royal Australian Navy , in support of the RAN's aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm...
.
In January 1982, he was selected as the first RAN pilot to undergo an exchange with the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, flying Mirage III
Dassault Mirage III
The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
aircraft. On completion of this exchange, and with the disbanding of the Navy's fixed wing capability, he joined the RAAF in 1984.
Mark Binskin was the Commanding Officer of No. 77 Squadron
No. 77 Squadron RAAF
No. 77 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown.-History:...
at Williamtown during the period 1998 and 1999, and later Commander of Air Combat Group
Air Combat Group RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group is the group which administers the RAAF's fighter and bomber aircraft. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy...
in 2004 until 2005.
Binskin's flying qualifications include Fighter Combat Instructor and Tactical Reconnaissance Pilot. Additionally, he has served as the RAAF F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
Demonstration Pilot, and in this position represented the RAAF throughout Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and has over 3,500 hours in single-seat fighter aircraft. He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his performance in these two positions.
During Australia's 2003 contribution to the war in Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, he served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Australian Theatre. Following this, he served as the first dedicated non-United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Director of the US Central Air Force Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, where he was responsible for the conduct of all Coalition air operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (ADF Operations Catalyst and Slipper
Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force contribution to the war in Afghanistan. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing...
). For his leadership capabilities in this appointment, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service
Commendation for Distinguished Service
The Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations. The Commendation for Distinguished Service was introduced in 1991 and replaced the Imperial...
.
Binskin was appointed to the position of Air Commander Australia
RAAF Air Command
Air Command is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force . It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups , which contain the operational capability of the Air Force...
on 26 July 2007. He assumed the position of Chief of the Air Force on 4 July 2008; upon assuming this appointment, he was promoted to Air Marshal
Air Marshal (Australia)
Air marshal is the second highest active rank of the Royal Australian Air Force and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Royal Air Force rank of air marshal, it is also considered a three-star rank...
on 4 July 2008.
Binskin was appointed an Officer of the Order Of Australia in the 2010 Queens Birthday Honours List for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments. Binskin has additionally been honoured with Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
's Meritorious Service Medal
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang , is awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces for exceptionally distinguished performance or extraordinary service, or the furtherance of links with overseas forces....
, and the Gugseon Medal of the Order of National Security Merit
Order of National Security Merit (Korea)
The Order of National Security Merit is one of the Republic of Korea's Orders of Merit. It is conferred on individuals who have rendered distinguished service to national security, and is primarily a military award....
from South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
On 1 June 2011, it was announced that Binskin would be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
The Vice Chief of the Defence Force is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements....
from 4 July for a term of three years in the Defence leadership change over.
Personal life
Binskin is married to Gitte. Together they have two sons; Scott who born in 1989 and Nicholas who was born in 1993. His interests include camping, motor sports and motorcycle riding.Honours and awards
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Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | (2010) |
| Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | (1989) | |
| |
Commendation for Distinguished Service Commendation for Distinguished Service The Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations. The Commendation for Distinguished Service was introduced in 1991 and replaced the Imperial... |
(26 January 2005) |
| |
Australian Active Service Medal Australian Active Service Medal The Australian Active Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations... |
with 2 Clasps "IRAQ 2003" and "ICAT" |
| |
Iraq Medal Iraq Medal (Australia) The Iraq Medal was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The Iraq Medal is awarded to Australian Defence Force personnel who served in or around Iraq after 18 March 2003... |
|
| |
Defence Force Service Medal Defence Force Service Medal The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force... with 3 clasps |
30–34 years service |
| |
Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
|
| |
Order of National Security Merit (Korea) Order of National Security Merit (Korea) The Order of National Security Merit is one of the Republic of Korea's Orders of Merit. It is conferred on individuals who have rendered distinguished service to national security, and is primarily a military award.... |
2010 |
| |
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) The Pingat Jasa Gemilang , is awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces for exceptionally distinguished performance or extraordinary service, or the furtherance of links with overseas forces.... |
2010 |
