Defence Services Secretary Explained
The Defence Services Secretary is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom.
Responsibilities
The Defence Services Secretary is the senior member of the Royal Household responsible for liaison between the Sovereign and the British Armed Forces.[1] He is answerable to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff for tri-service appointments, national ceremonial events and honours, decorations, awards and medals.[2] From 1992 the Defence Services Secretary has been double-hatted with a second Ministry of Defence role, generally that of Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel).[3]
List of Defence Services Secretaries
Defence Services Secretaries have been:[4]
- General Sir Rodney Moore, 1964–1966
- Vice Admiral Sir Ian Hogg, 1966–1967
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Alan Boxer, 1967–1970
- Major General Sir Chandos Blair, 1970–1972
- Rear Admiral Sir Ronald Forrest, 1972–1975
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Brian Stanbridge, 1975–1979
- Rear Admiral Sir Leslie Townsend, 1979–1982
- Major General Sir Michael Palmer, 1982–1985
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Richard Peirse, 1985–1988
- Rear Admiral Sir David Allen, 1988–1991
- Major General Brian Pennicott, 1991–1994 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) from 1992)
- Air Vice-Marshal Peter Harding, 1994–1998
- Rear Admiral Rodney Lees, 1998–2001 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
- Major General Christopher Elliot, 2001–2004 (Director General, Reserve Forces and Cadets as secondary post)
- Air Vice-Marshal David Pocock, 2004–2005 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
- Rear Admiral Peter Wilkinson, 2005–2007 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
- Major General Matthew Sykes, 2007–2010
- Air Vice-Marshal the Honourable David Murray, 2010–2012
- Rear Admiral Simon Williams, 2012–2015 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
- Major-General Richard Nugee, 2015–2016 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)[5]
- Air Vice-Marshal Garry Tunnicliffe, 2016–2019 (Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) as secondary post)[6]
- Rear Admiral James Macleod, 2019-2022 (Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) as secondary post)[7] [8] [9]
- Major General Eldon Millar, 2022–2024 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (People Capability) as secondary post)[10]
- Major General Lisa Keetley 2024–present (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (People Capability) as secondary post)
Notes and References
- http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchuk/armedforces/queenandthearmedforces.aspx The Queen and the Armed Services
- http://www.veterans-uk.info/medals/instituted.html Veterans UK
- http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3A7A2BEA-C92D-431A-B146-AC9E9860EB36/0/central_tlb.pdf Central Top Level Budget
- http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf Ministry of Defence & Tri-service senior appointments
- http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/courtsocial/article4241432.ece Army appointment
- Daily Telegraph, 2016, "Air Appointments" The Daily Telegraph 21 July 2016
- Royal Court Circular, 2019, Buckingham Palace, 27 March 2019
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-17/queens-first-appearance-since-covid-scare/100838516 Queen Elizabeth II makes first appearance since Prince Charles's COVID diagnosis
- Royal Court Circular, 2022, Windsor Castle,16 February 2022
- Royal Court Circular, 2022, St James Palace, 3 February 2022
