Colonel Mark Totten

Programme Director, Future Commando Force Royal Marines

Colonel Mark Totten joined the Royal Marines in 1998 and passed for duty in September 1999, having studied modern languages to post-graduate level prior to entry. His early career was dominated by Regimental duty - at 40 Commando Royal Marines, the United Kingdom Landing Force Support Group (now 30 Commando IX Group) and at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM). During this period, he saw operational service in West Belfast and Iraq, and had the privilege of training new-entry Royal Marines.

Following promotion to Major in 2007, he returned to CTCRM as the Adjutant, before re-joining 40 Commando as Officer Commanding B Company. In this role he deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan, as part of the NATO Security and Assistance Force and was awarded an MBE for his contribution – recognition that rested on the efforts of the entire Company.

Progressing to Lt Col in 2012, he completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course at Shrivenham and then spent a year as the Plans Officer within the UK's 2* amphibious Battlestaff. From there, he returned to 3 Commando Brigade - first as the Chief of Staff within the Brigade Headquarters and then as Commanding Officer of 42 Commando Royal Marines. For his service to the Commando Brigade in these appointments he was promoted to OBE.

As a Colonel he has been Chief of Staff for the EU Naval Force ATALANTA, running counter piracy operations in the Horn of Africa, and to Commander UK Strike Force, the UK's 2* expeditionary Maritime Component Command. Having had a long-running interest in littoral force development, he now has the role of Programme Director for the Royal Navy's Littoral Strike concept.

He lives in East Devon with his wife, Beccy and two sons, Ben and Daniel.