Mark Bonser

Mark 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]

In 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]