The Defence Services Secretary is a senior member of the
Royal Household of the
Sovereign of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwi ...
.
Responsibilities
The Defence Services Secretary is the senior member of the
Royal Household responsible for liaison between the Sovereign and the
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, s ...
. He is answerable to the
Secretary of State for Defence
The secretary of state for defence, also referred to as the defence secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the business of the Ministry of Defence. The incumbent is a membe ...
and the
Chief of Defence Staff for tri-service appointments, national ceremonial events and honours, decorations, awards and medals. From 1992 to 2022, the Defence Services Secretary was double-hatted with a second
Ministry of Defence role, generally that of
Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel).
List of Defence Services Secretaries
Defence Services Secretaries have been:
*
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Rodney Moore, 1964–1966
*
Vice Admiral Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Ian Hogg, 1966–1967
*
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Alan Boxer
Air Vice Marshal Sir Alan Hunter Cachemaille Boxer, (1 December 1916 – 26 April 1998) was a senior Royal Air Force officer.
Early life
Boxer was born in Hastings, New Zealand, on 1 December 1916, and was educated at Nelson College from 1927 ...
, 1967–1970
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Chandos Blair
Lieutenant General Sir Chandos Blair & Bar (25 February 1919 – 22 January 2011) was a senior British Army officer who served as General Officer Commanding Scottish Command from 1972 to 1976.
Military career
Born the son of Arthur Blair and e ...
, 1970–1972
*
Rear Admiral Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Ronald Forrest
Rear Admiral Sir Ronald Stephen Forrest, (11 January 1923 – 25 March 2005) was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Defence Services Secretary from 1972 to 1975.
Naval career
Educated at Belhaven Hill School and the Royal Naval Colleg ...
, 1972–1975
*
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Brian Stanbridge, 1975–1979
*
Rear Admiral Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Leslie Townsend, 1979–1982
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Michael Palmer, 1982–1985
*
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Richard Peirse
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Edmund Charles Peirse, (30 September 1892 – 5 August 1970), served as a senior Royal Air Force commander.
RAF career
The son of Admiral Sir Richard Peirse and his wife Blanche Melville Wemyss-Whittaker, Richard ...
, 1985–1988
*
Rear Admiral Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
David Allen, 1988–1991
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Brian Pennicott
Major-General Brian Thomas Pennicott, CVO (born 15 February 1938) is a former senior British Army officer who served as Defence Services Secretary from 1991 to 1994.
Military career
Educated at Portsmouth Northern Grammar School and the Roya ...
, 1991–1994 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) from 1992)
*
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
Peter Harding, 1994–1998
*
Rear Admiral Rodney Lees, 1998–2001 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Christopher Elliot, 2001–2004 (Director General, Reserve Forces and Cadets as secondary post)
*
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
David Pocock
David Willmer Pocock (born 23 April 1988) is an Australian politician and former professional rugby union player. Raised in Gweru, Zimbabwe, Pocock moved to Australia as a teenager and played for the Australia national rugby team. He played p ...
, 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
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Matthew Sykes, 2007–2010
*
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
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
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Richard Nugee
Lieutenant General Richard Edward Nugee, CB, CVO, CBE (born 3 June 1963) is a retired senior British Army officer. He served in several senior roles including Defence Services Secretary (2015–2016) and Chief of Defence People (2016–2020), ...
, 2015–2016 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
*
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
Garry Tunnicliffe
Air Vice-Marshal Garry Tunnicliffe, (born 14 October 1966) is a senior Royal Air Force officer who served as Defence Services Secretary from 2016 to 2019.
Early life and education
Tunnicliffe was educated at Devonport High School for Boys, D ...
, 2016–2019 (Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) as secondary post)
*
Rear Admiral James Macleod
Lieutenant-Colonel James Farquharson Macleod (c. September 25, 1836 – September 5, 1894), born in Drynoch, Isle of Skye, Scotland, was a militia officer, lawyer, North-West Mounted Police officer, magistrate, judge, and politician in Alber ...
, 2019-2022 (Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) as secondary post)
[Queen Elizabeth II makes first appearance since Prince Charles's COVID diagnosis](_blank)
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
/Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency was estab ...
, 2022-02-16
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Eldon Millar
Major-General Eldon Nicholas Somerville Millar, is a senior British Army officer who currently serves as Defence Services Secretary.
Military career
Millar was commissioned the Royal Engineers on 14 October 1994. After serving as commanding o ...
, 2022–present
References
{{British Monarchy Household
Positions within the British Royal Household
British military appointments