Mark Thomson

Mark began his career as an academic working in theoretical physics. As a scientist he held research and teaching posts in Australia and the United Kingdom.

In the mid-1990's Mark joined the Department of Defence and commenced work in the Force Development and Analysis division scrutinising capability development proposals. Over the next five years he held a diverse range of jobs in the department that saw him working on budget management, organisational change and force development. In this period, he was deployed on operations as a Civilian Truce Monitor to Bougainville in 1997, and as Political Military Adviser to the INTERFET Commander in 1999.

In 2002 Mark joined the newly formed Australian Strategic Policy Institute as inaugural director of the Budget and Management Program. Mark's research touches on a wide range of issues including Australia's defence and security budgets, links between strategy and force structure, the internal management of the Department of Defence and defence industry. Mark participated in the government’s review of ADF Recruitment and Retention in 2005-06 and was member of the Defence Industry Policy Review team in 2006-07.