Chief of Air Force
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Commanders Intent
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Air
Marshal Mark Binskin was born in Sydney in 1960. He joined the Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1984 after an initial period of service
with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Air Marshal Binskin’s service
commenced with the RAN in May 1978 and on completion of flying
training, was posted to fly A-4G Skyhawk aircraft at Naval Air Station
Nowra, NSW. He served in VC724 and VF805 Squadrons and in January
1982 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.
Air Marshal Binskin’s other flying tours include No 2 Operational
Conversion Unit and No 77 Squadron at Williamtown, NSW flying Mirage
and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft; with the United States Navy at VFA-125 at
Lemoore, California training on F/A-18 aircraft; with the United States
Air Force at 314 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, USAF at Luke AFB
Arizona instructing on F-16C aircraft; and No 75 Squadron at Tindal,
Northern Territory flying F/A-18 aircraft.
He was the Commanding Officer of No 77 Squadron at Williamtown
during the period 1998-99, Commander of Air Combat Group (F/A-18,
F-111, Hawk and PC9-A(F)) in 2004-05 and later as Air Commander
Australia in 2007-08. Air Marshal 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. He has over 3,500 hours
in single-seat fighter aircraft. He was awarded the Member of the Order
of Australia (AM) for his performance as a Fighter Combat Instructor
and the RAAF F/A-18 Display Pilot.
Air Marshal Binskin has served in various joint and single service
staff positions including Headquarters Australian Defence Force as
Deputy Director Airspace Control and as Staff Officer to the Chief of
Defence Force; in the Defence Materiel Organisation as Officer
Commanding the Airborne Early Warning and Control System Program
Office; and in Air Force Headquarters as Director General Performance
Management Audit and Director General Capability Planning. During
Australia’s 2003 contribution to the war in Iraq, Air Marshal Binskin
served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Australian Theatre. Following
this, he served as the first dedicated non-USAF 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 this service he was awarded a
Commendation for Distinguished Service.
Air Marshal Binskin is a graduate of the Harvard Business School
Advanced Management Program, Australian Institute of Company Directors
and RAAF Command and Staff Course where he was awarded the Chief of
Staff’s Prize for Professional Excellence.
Air Marshal Binskin was promoted to Air Marshal and appointed Chief of Air Force on 04 July 2008.
Air Marshal Binskin is married to Gitte and they have two sons,
Scott, born in 1989, and Nicholas, born in 1993. Air Marshal Binskin's
interests include camping, motor sports and motorcycle riding with his
family.
Portraits of Air Marshal Mark Binskin, AM
