Commander Marcus Baxter
Commander Marcus Baxter joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Midshipman in 1994 and commenced training at the Australian Defence Force Academy. He completed university studies with Majors in Politics and History before commencing specialist aviation training in 1996. He graduated from number 40 Observers course in 1997 and undertook Observer rotary wing training with 723 Squadron, NAS Nowra.
Following conversion to the AS350BA he served as Flight Observer on HMAS Anzac during the East Timor conflict in September 1999.
Upon completion of Seahawk conversion with 816 Squadron, he served as the Flight Observer on several His Majesty’s Australian Ships. During this period he served with HMAS Newcastle (2003) and was deployed on operations in support of Operations CATALYST and SLIPPER, Australia’s contribution to the allied operation Enduring Freedom.
Upon his return from operational deployment in late 2003, he was selected for an exchange appointment with the Royal Navy flying the EH-101 Merlin Helicopter. During the period May 2004-2008 he performed instructional duties with 824 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), RNAS Culdrose. During this period Commander Baxter deployed with 814 NAS to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO), again in support of allied operations.
Having completed the Royal Navy Helicopter Warfare Instructors (HWI) course, Commander Baxter returned to 816 Squadron in 2008 as the Officer in charge of Tactical Development for the RAN S-70B-2. It was during this appointment and his subsequent Staff Officer posting to Headquarters Fleet Air Arm as the senior warfare instructor, that Marcus Baxter became involved in the MH-60R Project.
Commander Baxter has been intimately involved in the Air 9000 Phase 8 project from the tender evaluation stage, but also as a key member in the Flight Preview activities evaluating the MH-60R. Commander Baxter continued his close association with the MH-60R undertaking the Training System and Operations Manager for the MH-60R Project Office located in Jacksonville, Florida. During this time, Commander Baxter completed his MH-60R conversion before returning to Australia as Operations Officer then Executive Officer at 725 Squadron. At the end of this appointment Commander Baxter transitioned from Navy to Consultancy where he managed a successful Small Medium Enterprise with Defence Industry.
Maintaining close ties with Navy, Commander Baxter returned to Navy Fleet Air Arm as a Staff Officer, and subsequently assumed Command of 725 Squadron in December 2021.
