The Naval Association

of Australia

MIDSHIPMAN MAKES AIR MARSHALL

President of the ACT Section, LCDR Peter McNay an ex-RAN Fleet Air Arm officer himself, provided the following short story about the new Chief of Air Force, AM BINSKIN:-

MIDN Mark Binskin became the first ex-RAN Midshipman to be promoted Air Marshall and Chief of Air Force since the 1920s-30s when Navy and Army aviators amalgamated to form the new RAAF.

Many ex-RAN student pilots went on to become outstanding RAAF officers, carving out brilliant careers. Perhaps the first in the post-WW11 era was Hank Hurley, who dropped out from his pilot’s course as a Naval Airman, but joined the RAAF as a trainee navigator. He rose to Air Commodore through the bomber route, flying F111s.

Mark Binskin made the first post-WW11 transition from Midshipman to Air Marshall, and he did this through the fighter route. Mark completed his Operational Flying School in Skyhawks and was appointed to 805 Squadron when the axe started to fall on RAN fixed wing flying. Mark found a niche in the RAAF by first taking up an exchange posting as a Mirage pilot. He joined the RAAF on completion of this tour and embarked on a stellar career as a Fighter Combat Instructor and F/A-18 demonstration pilot, which earned him a Member of the Order of Australia.

Mark became Chief of Air Force in July 2008.

This is the official story taken from the RAAF website:-

Chief of Air Force

Air Marshal Mark Binskin, AM

AIRMSHL Binskin

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.

© The Naval Association of Australia