Mark Evans
Major General Mark Evans, early 2008
Born (1953-04-24) 24 April 1953
Kluang, Malaya
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Australia
Service/branchBritish Army (1973–76)
Australian Army (1976–11)
Years of service1973–2011
RankLieutenant general
Commands heldChief of Joint Operations (2008–11)
Joint Task Force 633 (2007–08)
1st Division (2002–04)
3rd Brigade (1998–01)
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1992–93)
Battles/warsThe Troubles
International Force for East Timor
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Distinguished Service Cross
Decoration of Merit (Netherlands)

Lieutenant General Mark Evans, AO, DSC (born 24 April 1953) is a retired senior officer in the Australian Army. He was chief of joint operations from July 2008 until his retirement in May 2011.

Early years

Evans was born in Kluang, Malaya, on 24 April 1953 to William Eric and Valerie Doreen Evans, and was educated in the United Kingdom.[1][2]

Military career

British Army

He was a cadet in the Worcestershire Army Cadet Force (ACF), 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 spent five years in the British Army, which included officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and regimental duties with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in Berlin. During this time, he was involved in counter insurgency operations in Northern Ireland. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 9 March 1973,[3] and promoted to lieutenant on 8 September 1974.[4] Evans resigned his British commission on 13 April 1976.[5]

Australian Army

Evans resigned his British commission on 13 April 1976 and joined the Australian Army, 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.[6]

In December 1994, 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.[7]

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 at Headquarters Joint Operations Command in Sydney. In July 2005, he was appointed as head Defence Personnel Executive in Canberra and, in June 2007, awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia.[8]

On 17 June 2007, Evans assumed command of Joint Task Force 633, Australia's contribution in the Middle East Area of Operations to the Global War on Terror. During that time, he was responsible for Australian Defence Force operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the North Persian Gulf. He was succeeded in that 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 from 4 July 2008.[9] Evans retired from the Australian Army on 19 May 2011.[10]

Personal life

Evans married Veronica Ann Higley on 9 September 1974. They have an adult son and daughter. Evans has a wide variety of interests that include military history, reading, walking and watching Veronica gardening.[1]

Honours and awards

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)[8]11 June 2007
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)[6]26 January 1994
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)[7]4 April 2000
UK General Service Medalwith 1 Clasp Northern Ireland
Australian Active Service Medalwith 2 Clasps EAST TIMOR and IRAQ 2003
International Force East Timor Medal (INTERFET)
Afghanistan Medal
Iraq Medal
Australian Service Medalwith 1 Clasp Middle East
Defence Force Service Medal with 4 rosettes35–39 years service
Australian Defence Medal
UNTSO Medal (United Nations)
NATO ISAF Medal (NATO)
Gold Decoration of Merit (Netherlands)16 September 2010

References

  1. 1 2 "Lt-Gen. (Rtd) Mark Evans". Who's Who in Australia Online. ConnectWeb. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Major General Mark Evans, AO, DSC". Operation Catalyst. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 10 August 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  3. ↑ "No. 45956". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 April 1973. pp. 4932–4935.
  4. ↑ "No. 46419". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 December 1974. p. 12158.
  5. ↑ "No. 46874". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 April 1976. p. 5468.
  6. 1 2 "Member of the Order of Australia". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 1994. Citation: In recognition of service to the Australian Army, particularly as brigade major of the 3rd Brigade and CO of the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.
  7. 1 2 "Distinguished Service Cross". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 April 2000. Citation: For distinguished command and leadership as the Commander of the 3rd Brigade during Operation WARDEN in East Timor.
  8. 1 2 "Officer of the Order of Australia". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 11 June 2007. Citation: For distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments.
  9. ↑ "Major General Evans appointed Chief of Joint Operations" (Press release). Department of Defence. 20 March 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans is farewelled". Australian Defence Image Library. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.


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