BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Air Commodore Graham Bentley

Australian National Commander – Middle East area of operations


Air Commodore Bentley was born in Ballarat, Victoria the son of a RAAF Navigator. He was educated in numerous primary and secondary schools in around southern Australia. He joined the RAAF in June 1974 to undertake Basic Navigator training. After graduating as dux of his course in 1975 he was posted to No 11 Squadron to fly P-3B Orions.

In March 1978 AIRCDRE Bentley was attached to the USA for one of the initial P-3C Update II transitions and was part of the crew that flew the first P-3C to Australia in May of this year. Over the period 1981-83 Air Commodore Bentley was posted on exchange to No 415 Squadron in Nova Scotia, Canada. On return to Australia Air Commodore Bentley was posted to No 292 Squadron as an instructor until the end on 1985 when he was posted to the Australian Joint Maritime Warfare Centre as Staff Officer Air Operations. He was then posted as Executive Officer to No 11 Squadron (1988-89).

Air Commodore Bentley graduated from RAAF Staff College at the end of 1990. He was posted as Deputy Director Trials - Air Force between 1991 and 1993. He was posted as the Commanding Officer of the School of Air Navigation between mid 1993 and mid 1995.

Air Commodore Bentley renewed his association with the US Navy with a posting to Commander Patrol Wings U.S. Pacific Fleet Headquarters as Readiness Plans Officer and as Assistant Chief of Staff for Training (1995-97). As a senior officer his appointments have included Director Plans at Headquarters Air Command, Co-ordinator of the Global Hawk Deployment to Australia and Director General Policy and Plans - Air Force Air Commodore Bentley's previous appointment prior to his new command duties in the Middle East was the Commander Maritime Patrol Group (CDR MPG) based in South Australia and responsible for all aspects of the RAAF's P3 Orion maritime patrol operations.

Air Commodore Bentley attended both the Joint Services Staff College and the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies. He holds a Graduate Diploma of Business Management, Graduate Diploma of Strategic Studies. He has accumulated over 5000 hours flying in P-3 aircraft.

Air Commodre Bentley is married with two children. Air Commodore Bentley's hobbies include golf, computers, gardening, rock music and he has a fine appreciation of red wine and food.