Mike Hindmarsh

Major General Michael Simon "Mike" Hindmarsh is a senior officer within the army of the United Arab Emirates and is the Commander of the UAE Presidential Guard, a warfighting UAE Armed Forces formation which includes both conventional and special forces units. Hindmarsh was also a senior officer in the Australian Army. Hindmarsh served as Special Operations Commander Australia from 2004 to 2008, and Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations from March 2008 to January 2009.

Military career
Mike Hindmarsh entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1976, graduating into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 1978.

He saw regimental service as a Platoon Commander with the 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and as a Troop Commander, Squadron Commander and Commanding Officer with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Other appointments included: SO3 Operations at HQ Land Command; SO2 Training at HQ UK Special Forces; SO1 Operations at HQ Special Forces; and Brigade level tactics instructor at the Land Warfare Centre.

As Commanding Officer of the SASR, he commanded the ANZAC Special Operations Force detachment to Operation Pollard in Kuwait during 1998. Hindmarsh was later appointed to command the Special Operations Component on Operation Bastille and Operation Falconer in the Iraq War. He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his distinguished leadership in this position.

He served as the Australian Special Operations Commander from October 2004 to February 2008. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours of 2008 for his distinguished service in that position.

Hindmarsh assumed command of Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations in an official ceremony on 1 March 2008; he succeeded Major General Mark Evans in this position. His tour ended on 12 January 2009, at which time he was succeeded by Major General Mark Andrew Kelly. For his "distinguished command and leadership in action in the Middle East", Hindmarsh was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

From March 2009, Hindmarsh assumed command of Army Training Command at Victoria Barracks, Sydney.

He is now a Major General, in charge of the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard.

Retirement
Hindmarsh retired from the Australian Army in later half of 2009.

Following retirement from the Australian Army, Hindmarsh accepted a position with the United Arab Emirates where he was commissioned in the grade of Major General. Hindmarsh is currently Special Advisor - National Security and Commander of the Presidential Guard Command which, among other things, performs the UAE's special operations mission.

Personal
Hindmarsh was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College, Queenscliff, the Joint Services Command and Staff College and the United Kingdom Royal College of Defence Studies. He is married and has three sons. He enjoys rock climbing, bush walking and rugby union.

Honours and Awards