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Mark Evans (general)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Mark Evans AO, DSC
(b. 1953) is a retired senior officer in the Australian Army
. He served as Chief of Joint Operations
(CJOPS) from July 2008 until May 2011.
which included officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
and regimental duties in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in Berlin
and Northern Ireland
. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant
on 9 March 1973, and promoted to lieutenant
on 8 September 1974. Evans resigned his British commission on 13 April 1976.
, where he was first posted to the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(6 RAR). In 1979–80 he held the position (as a Captain
) of Officer Commanding C Company at the Australian Army Apprentice School at Balcombe, Victoria. In 1985 he served with the United Nations
in the Middle East.
In 1989 he was appointed as Brigade Major
of 3rd Brigade, and in 1991 promoted to lieutenant colonel
at Australian Defence Force
Headquarters. Between 1992 and 1993, he commanded 6 RAR, for which he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
In December 1994, Mark Evans was promoted to colonel
, and in 1998 to brigadier
commanding the 3rd Brigade. During this time he commanded the brigade on operations in East Timor
, during Operation Warden, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
.
In July 2002 he was promoted to major general
and assumed command of the 1st Division at Gallipoli Barracks. On 13 April 2004 he assumed the new position of Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (DCJOPS) at Headquarters Joint Operations Command
(HQJOC) in Sydney. In July 2005 he was appointed as Head Defence Personnel Executive in Canberra, and in June 2007, awarded Officer of the Order of Australia.
On 17 June 2007, Evans assumed command of Joint Task Force 633 (JTF663) – Australia's contribution in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) to the Global War on Terror
. During that time he was responsible for Australian Defence Force
(ADF) operations in Iraq, Afghanistan
and the North Persian Gulf; he was succeeded in this position by Major General Mike Hindmarsh
in an official ceremony on 1 March 2008.
On 20 March 2008 it was announced that he was to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general
and would assume the position of Chief of Joint Operations
(CJOPS) from 4 July 2008. Evans retired from the Australian Army on 19 May 2011.
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Lieutenant General (Australia)
Lieutenant general is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general. It is also considered a three-star rank....
Mark Evans AO, DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System...
(b. 1953) is a retired senior officer in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. He served as Chief of Joint Operations
Chief of Joint Operations (Australia)
Until September 2007, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force was "double hatted" as the Chief of Joint Operations . In this role he commanded Australian Defence Force operations on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force...
(CJOPS) from July 2008 until May 2011.
British Army
He was a cadet in the Worcestershire Army Cadet Force, serving in Droitwich Troop, a detachment affiliated to the Queen's Own Hussars. He achieved the rare appointment of Cadet Under Officer before leaving the ACF for the Regular Army. Evans served for five years in the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
which included officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
and regimental duties in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 9 March 1973, and promoted to lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 8 September 1974. Evans resigned his British commission on 13 April 1976.
Australian Army
Evans resigned his British commission on 13 April 1976 and joined the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, where he was first posted to the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a motorised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in Brisbane, Queensland, on 6 June 1965 and has since then served in a number of overseas deployments and conflicts including South Vietnam, East Timor and Iraq...
(6 RAR). In 1979–80 he held the position (as a Captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
) of Officer Commanding C Company at the Australian Army Apprentice School at Balcombe, Victoria. In 1985 he served with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in the Middle East.
In 1989 he was appointed as Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of 3rd Brigade, and in 1991 promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
at 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...
Headquarters. Between 1992 and 1993, he commanded 6 RAR, for which he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
In December 1994, Mark Evans was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, and in 1998 to brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
commanding the 3rd Brigade. During this time he commanded the brigade on operations in East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, during Operation Warden, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System...
.
In July 2002 he was promoted to major general
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
and assumed command of the 1st Division at Gallipoli Barracks. On 13 April 2004 he assumed the new position of Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (DCJOPS) at Headquarters Joint Operations Command
Headquarters Joint Operations Command (Australia)
The Australian Headquarters Joint Operations Command is the Australian Defence Force's operational level headquarters responsible for the command and control of ADF operations worldwide...
(HQJOC) in Sydney. In July 2005 he was appointed as Head Defence Personnel Executive in Canberra, and in June 2007, awarded Officer of the Order of Australia.
On 17 June 2007, Evans assumed command of Joint Task Force 633 (JTF663) – Australia's contribution in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) to the Global War on Terror
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. During that time he was responsible for 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...
(ADF) operations in Iraq, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and the North Persian Gulf; he was succeeded in this position by Major General Mike Hindmarsh
Mike Hindmarsh
Major General Michael Simon "Mike" Hindmarsh AO, DSC, CSC was a senior officer in the Australian Army. Hindmarsh served as Special Operations Commander Australia from 2004 to 2008, and Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations from March 2008 to January 2009.-Military...
in an official ceremony on 1 March 2008.
On 20 March 2008 it was announced that he was to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general
Lieutenant General (Australia)
Lieutenant general is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general. It is also considered a three-star rank....
and would assume the position of Chief of Joint Operations
Chief of Joint Operations (Australia)
Until September 2007, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force was "double hatted" as the Chief of Joint Operations . In this role he commanded Australian Defence Force operations on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force...
(CJOPS) from 4 July 2008. Evans retired from the Australian Army on 19 May 2011.
Personal life
Mark Evans is married to Veronica. They have two grown up children. He has a wide variety of interests that include military history, reading, walking and watching Veronica gardening.Honours and awards
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Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 11 June 2007 |
| Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | 26 January 1994 | |
| Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System... (DSC) |
4 April 2000 | |
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UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... General Service Medal General Service Medal (1962) The General Service Medal , was introduced in 1962 to combine the General Service Medal , as awarded to the Army and RAF, and the Naval General Service Medal... |
with 1 Clasp Northern Ireland |
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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 EAST TIMOR and IRAQ 2003 |
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International Force East Timor Medal International Force East Timor Medal The International Force East Timor Medal recognises members of the Australian Defence Force who served for 30 days in East Timor during the INTERFET campaign... (INTERFET) |
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Afghanistan Medal Afghanistan Medal (Australia) The Afghanistan Medal was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The Afghanistan Medal is awarded to Australian defence force personnel who served in or around Afghanistan after 11 October 2001... |
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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... |
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Australian Service Medal Australian Service Medal The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of... |
with 1 Clasp Middle East |
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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 4 rosettes |
35–39 years service |
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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... |
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UNTSO Medal United Nations Truce Supervision Organization The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization is an organization founded on 29 May 1948 for peacekeeping in the Middle East. Its primary task was providing the military command structure to the peace keeping forces in the Middle East to enable the peace keepers to observe and maintain the... (Middle East) |
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NATO ISAF International Security Assistance Force The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement... Medal (Afghanistan) |
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| Netherlands Decoration of Merit Decoration of Merit The Decoration of Merit is an important military decoration for bravery in the Netherlands The medal was established by the Dutch minister of defence Wim van Eekelen on 16 April 1987... (Gold) |
16 September 2010 |
External links
Links to copyright photographs of Mark Evans:- 19 May 2011. Personnel at Headquarters Joint Operations Command, in Bungendore, farewell the outgoing Lieutenant General Mark Evans Commander Joint Operations Command.
- MAJGEN Evans at Government House, 11 April 2008, receiving Officer of the Order of Australia (AOOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
) from His Excellency Major General (Ret'd) Michael JefferyMichael JefferyMajor General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general...
, AC CVO MC, the then Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (copyright) - Official ADF photo 2007 (copyright)
- HDPE photo 2005 (copyright)
- Mark Evans at the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (MRCC) Overview, 2005 (copyright)
