Tribunal Member

Air Commodore Mark Lax joined the Royal Australian Air Force Academy in 1974 and graduated dux of his class. After navigator training he had operational, flight test and instructional tours before completing a staff position in Air Force Headquarters, working on F-111 enhancement projects. In 1991 he was appointed to command RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria, during which time he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal.

Air Commodore Lax was selected as Australia’s student to the United States Air Force Air War College, graduating with the Commandant’s Prize for Excellence. He was subsequently appointed Base Commander of RAAF Richmond, Australia’s largest and busiest air base. He has served as Australia’s senior national representative at the United States Central Command Headquarters for the War on Terror.

He retired from the RAAF in January 2007 and formed his own consultancy business, Strategic Perspectives. He is an active member of the RAAF Reserve Staff Group and, amongst other work, he is managing editor of the Australian Defence Force Journal. 

Air Commodore Lax is a graduate of the RAAF Academy, RAAF School of Air Navigation, Royal Air Force General Duties Aerosystems Course, RAAF Staff College, United States Air Force Air War College, the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He enjoys cricket, reading, writing and publishing on military aviation history. He is married to Margaret and has two adult daughters, Stephanie and Amanda.