Defence Services Secretary
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The Defence Services Secretary is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Located within the Private Secretary's Office, he is responsible for the maintenance of communications between the Sovereign and the armed forces. He occupies the India Room at Buckingham Palace, and also has an office at the Ministry of Defence, lately in the Metropole Building, Northumberland Avenue, London, and previously in the Main Building.
The first Defence Services Secretary was General Sir Rodney Moore, KCB KCVO CBE DSO, who was appointed in 1964. He was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Ian Hogg, CB DSC, in 1966. Air Vice Marshal Alan Boxer, his successor, appointed in the following year, was the first of the two star officers to hold the post.
When the office was first created the Defence Services Secretary was to be the sole future channel of communications between the Sovereign and the Secretary of State for Defence, largely responsible for giving advice to the Sovereign on appointments. It was anticipated that it would become a source of independent advice on higher appointments. However, within the first decade it was downgraded in rank and powers, and latterly is primarily concerned with matters relating to the Royal Family and the Royal Households. Unless his assistance is specifically invited he does not however concern himself with the Household Division, nor with royal travel. Thus he is not involved with programming flight of aircraft and helicopters of the Queen's Flight - now No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron - nor The Queen's Helicopter. Nor was he concerned with the Royal Yacht Britannia. Thus he does not have an operational role.
The Defence Services Secretary is answerable to the Sovereign's Private Secretary for all matters concerning the Sovereign's relationship with the armed forces and Ministry of Defence, such as the submission of service invitations to the Royal Family, and arrangements for royal appointments within the services, and for attendance on the Sovereign during service visits.
He acts as the liaison point with the Secretary of State for Defence and the service Chiefs of Staff, and is answerable to the Secretary of State, Chief of Defence Staff, and Chiefs of service staffs, for his other responsibilities. These are concerned with appointments generally, and since 1992 the Defence Services Secretary has concurrently held the post of Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves).
The Defence Services Secretary heads a diverse organisation responsible, apart from providing formal liaison between the Royal Household and the Ministry of Defence, with joint service policy on honours, decorations, awards and medals; museums and anniversaries and commemorative events; administration of bi and tri-service appointments for all military officer grades; Reserve Forces and Cadets personnel policy; Volunteer Reserve Forces campaign; Career transition partnership resettlement services and resettlement policy.
[edit] List of Defence Services Secretaries
- General Sir Rodney Moore, KCB KCVO CBE DSO 1964-1966
- Vice-Admiral Sir Ian Hogg, KCVO CB DSC 1966-1967
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Alan Boxer, KCVO CB DSO DFC 1967-1970
- Major-General Sir Charles Blair, KCVO OBE MC 1970-1972
- Rear-Admiral Sir Ronald Forrest, KCVO 1972-1975
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Brian Stanbridge, KCVO CBE AFC 1975-1979
- Rear-Admiral Sir Leslie Townsend, KCVO CBE 1979-1982
- Major-General Sir Michael Palmer, KCVO 1982-1985
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Richard Peirse, KCVO CB 1985-1988
- Rear-Admiral Sir David Allen, KCVO CBE 1988-1991
- Major-General Sir Brian Pennicott, KCVO 1991-1994
- Air Vice-Marshal Sir Peter Harding, KCVO CB CBE AFC 1994-1998
- Rear-Admiral Rodney Lees, CVO 1998-2001
- Major-General Christopher Elliot, CVO CBE 2001-2004
- Air Vice-Marshal David Pocock, CVO 2004-2005
- Rear-Admiral Peter Wilkinson 2005-
