The Defence Services Secretary is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom.
The Defence Services Secretary is the senior member of the Royal Household responsible for liaison between the Sovereign and the British Armed Forces. 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. Since 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).
Defence Services Secretaries have been:
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 Chandos 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 Brian Pennicott, CVO 1991–1994 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) from 1992)
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Harding, CVO CB CBE AFC 1994–1998
Rear Admiral Rodney Lees, CVO 1998–2001 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
Major General Christopher Elliot, CVO CBE 2001–2004 (Director General, Reserve Forces and Cadets as secondary post)
Air Vice-Marshal David Pocock, CVO 2004–2005 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
Rear Admiral Peter Wilkinson, CVO 2005–2007 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
Major General Matthew Sykes, CVO 2007–2010
Air Vice-Marshal the Honourable David Murray, CVO OBE 2010–2012
Rear Admiral Simon Williams, CVO 2012–2015 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
Major-General Richard Nugee, CBE 2015–2016 (Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves) as secondary post)
Air Vice-Marshal Garry Tunnicliffe 2016–Present (Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) as secondary post)
