Mark Bonser
Encyclopedia
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
.
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
.
Conspicuous Service Cross
Conspicuous Service Cross can refer to:* Conspicuous Service Cross * Conspicuous Service Cross * Conspicuous Service Cross...
, RAN
Rán
In Norse mythology, Rán is a sea goddess. According to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, in his retelling of the Poetic Edda poem Lokasenna, she is married to Ægir and they have nine daughters together...
is a flag rank officer in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal 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...
, and since October 2005, Head of the Military Justice Implementation Team for the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
.
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.Navy career
Bonser began his militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
career as a Cadet Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
at the RAN College, HMAS Creswell
HMAS Creswell
HMAS Creswell is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy, a part of the Australian Defence Force, and consists of the Royal Australian Naval College , The RAN School of Survivability and Ship's Safety, Kalkara Flight, the Beecroft Weapons Range and an administrative support...
in 1971, then had initial sea training in HMA Ships Parramatta, Duchess, Sydney (III) and Vampire
HMAS Vampire (D11)
HMAS Vampire was the third of three Australian-built Daring class destroyers serving in the Royal Australian Navy . One of the first all-welded ships built in Australia, she was constructed at Cockatoo Island Dockyard between 1952 and 1959, and was commissioned into the RAN a day after...
. 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
Conspicuous Service Cross
Conspicuous Service Cross can refer to:* Conspicuous Service Cross * Conspicuous Service Cross * 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
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
.
Career summary
| 1971 | entered RAN College |
| 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 |
| 1994 | promoted to Captain Captain (naval) Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel.... |
| 1993-1995 | Chief Staff Officer Operations at Maritime HQ Chief Staff Officer C3I at Maritime HQ |
| 1996-1997 | Director Combat Force Development (Sea), HQ ADF, Canberra |
| 1997-1999 | Commanding Officer HMAS Anzac |
| 1999 | promoted to Commodore Commodore (rank) Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always... |
| 1999-2000 | Commander Northern Command |
| 2001 | Director-General Command & Support Systems, Defence Materiel Organisation 2001 |
| 2001 | promoted to Rear Admiral |
| 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
External links
- Rear Admiral Mark Bonser AO, CSC, RAN, biography, accessed 27 December 2009
- RAN Bio, accessed 30 April 2011