Mark Binskin AC joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in May 1978, and on completion of flying training was posted to fly A-4G Skyhawk aircraft at Naval Air station HMAS Albatross. In January 1982, he was selected as the first RAN pilot to undergo an exchange with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), flying Mirage III aircraft. On completion of this exchange, and with the disbanding of the Navy's fixed wing capability, he transferred to the RAAF in 1984.  Binskin served as the Commanding Officer of No. 77 Squadron at Williamtown during the period 1998 and 1999, and later Commander of Air Combat Group from 2004 until 2005. 

Binskin's flying qualifications include Fighter Combat Instructor and Tactical Reconnaissance Pilot. Additionally, he has served as the RAAF F/A-18 Hornet Demonstration Pilot, and in this position represented the RAAF throughout Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand, and has over 3,500 hours in single-seat fighter aircraft. He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his performance in these two positions. 

During the Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Binskin served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters, Australian Theatre. Following this, he served as the first dedicated non-United States Air Force Director of the US Central Air Force Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, where he was responsible for the conduct of all Coalition air operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. For his leadership capabilities in this appointment, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service. 

Binskin was appointed to the position of Air Commander Australia on 26 July 2007. He assumed the position of Chief of the Air Force (CAF) on 4 July 2008 and was promoted to Air Marshal.  Binskin was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2010 Queens Birthday Honours for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments. He has additionally been honoured with Singapore's Meritorious Service Medal, and the Gugseon Medal of the Order of National Security Merit from South Korea.

On 1 June 2011, it was announced that Binskin would be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) from 4 July for a term of three years in the Defence leadership change over.  For his "eminent service to the Australian Defence Force" as CAF and VCDF, Binskin was advanced to a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Australia Day Honours. 

On 4 April 2014, Prime Minister announced that Binskin would take over as Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) when General David Hurley's term expired on 4 July 2014. The change of command occurred slightly earlier than advised, with Binskin promoted to Air Chief Marshal and appointed CDF during a ceremony on 30 June. 

In May 2024, Binskin visited Israel in his role as the Australian government's Special Adviser on Israel's response to the IDF attack on World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza (in which one Australian and six other people were killed). 

On 25 June 2024, Air Chief Marshall (retd) Mark Binskin AC was reappointed as Chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Board for three years.

For an outstanding individual contribution to Australian Aviation, Air Chief Marshal (retd) Mark Binskin AC is awarded the Australian Bi-Centennial Award.

1987/88  Captain T Thom

1988/89  Keith Robey MBE

1989/90  Wg Cdr K C Andrews

1990/91  Captain J K Davenport

1991/92  Gp Capt J W C Baker RAF

1992/93  A J (John) Douglas Esq

1993/94  Captain A Wickes

1994/95  John R Colwell Esq

1995  Mrs Senja Raymond Robey

1996/97  Glenn Elms Esq

1997/98  Captain John W Kessey

1998/99  Langley Kidby

1999/2000  Captain Philip Davenport

2000/01  Stephen Ingham

2001/02  Allana Corbin

2003/04  Captain Peter James Raven

2005  not awarded

2005/06  Bill Bristow

2006/07  David H Lowy

2007/08  not awarded

2008/09  Peter Nottage

2009/10  Gp Capt Dr Robert Lee

2011  not awarded

2011/12  Dr Carol Lesley Durkin PhD LLM BA DipSocStud

2012/13  Christopher Sperou

2013/14  Captain Patrick Stuart Murray

2014/15  Harry Schneider

2016  Matt Hall

2017  Bastiaan Scheffers

2018  Wg Cdr Ian Mallett DFC RAAF(retd)

2019  Nathan Higgins

2020  Gregory James Hood FRAeS

2021  Flt Lt Geoffrey Fox RAAF

2022  Steve Padgett OAM

2023  Ian Honnery

2024  Geoffrey Sartori

2025  Marjorie Gillespie OAM