Royal Australian Navy Commodore, Martin Brooker, has received a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the Queen's Birthday honours.
Originally from the Blue Mountains, Commodore Brooker was recognised for his distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force 633 on Operation Slipper from November 2012 to May 2013.
Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the war in Afghanistan.
"It was a privileged position that provided me the opportunity every day to witness the great job that the Australians from our Navy, Army, Air Force, Australian Federal Police and the public service served across the Middle East and Afghanistan in a variety of roles," Commodore Brooker said.
Joining the Royal Australian Navy in 1978 at the age of 15 he is now in his 37th year of service. ?His mother, Lindsey Brooker, lives in Lawson.
"The highlight for me has been working with great people and the privilege to lead them in a wide variety of circumstances from operations in the Middle East to the Solomon Islands to here at home," he said.
Commodore Brooker is the current Director General Military Strategy in Canberra and is carrying out work to support the Defence White Paper.
