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.The Queen and the Armed Services They are 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. 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).Central Top Level Budget
List of Defence Services Secretaries Defence Services Secretaries have been:Ministry of Defence & Tri-service senior appointments 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 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)Army appointment Air Vice-Marshal Garry Tunnicliffe, 2016–2019 (Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) as secondary post)Daily Telegraph, 2016, "Air Appointments" The Daily Telegraph 21 July 2016 Rear Admiral James Macleod, 2019-2022 (Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) as secondary post)Royal Court Circular, 2019, Buckingham Palace, 27 March 2019Queen Elizabeth II makes first appearance since Prince Charles's COVID diagnosis, ABC/Reuters, 2022-02-16Royal Court Circular, 2022, Windsor Castle,16 February 2022 Major General Eldon Millar, 2022–2024 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (People Capability) as secondary post)Royal Court Circular, 2022, St James Palace, 3 February 2022 Major General Lisa Keetley 2024–present (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (People Capability) as secondary post)
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