Brigadier Mark Totten

Programme Director – Future Commando Force Royal Marines

Brigadier Mark Totten joined the Royal Marines in 1998 and passed for duty in September 1999. 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 Norther Ireland and Iraq, and had the privilege of training new-entry Royal Marines.

Following promotion to Major, 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 spent a year as the lead planner within the UK’s 2* Amphibious Headquarters. 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 was Chief of Staff to both 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. After leading the team that developed the Future Commando Force concept for the Integrated Review of 2021, he was promoted to Brigadier and is now the Senior Responsible Owner for the Commando Force programme within Navy Command.

Brigadier Totten’s undergraduate degree is in modern languages and he has a MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London. He is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course at the UK Defence Academy.