Secretary of State for Defence
Responsibilities
The Secretary of State for Defence has overall responsibility for the business of the department.
Responsibilities include:
- strategic policy and operational oversight including as a member of the National Security Council
- nuclear deterrent (CASD) and operations policy and enterprise
- strategic overview of the Strategic Defence Review Implementation and Defence Investment Plan
- Defence budget
- Euro-Atlantic strategy and planning
- Defence strategy, planning, programme, and resource allocation
- relationships with strategic international partners: US, France, Germany, Australia, Ukraine
- One Defence Reform Programme
- oversight of Veterans
- Service Personnel deaths on duty and letters of condolence
- strategic multilateral programmes – AUKUS and GCAP
- regulatory functions
- Independent Afghan Inquiry
Current role holder
Dan Jarvis MBE MP
Dan Jarvis was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence on 11 June 2026.
He was previously Minister of State at the Home Office from 6 July 2024 to 11 June 2026, and Minister of State at the Cabinet Office from 6 September 2025 to 11 June 2026.
Political career
Dan first entered Parliament as the Member for Barnsley Central in 2011 and was elected as the Member for Barnsley North in July 2024. In 2011 Dan became the first person since the Second World War to resign his commission in order to contest a parliamentary by-election.
Dan served in various shadow front bench roles between 2011 and 2015 before serving on the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy between 2017 and 2019.
In 2018, he was elected as the first Mayor of South Yorkshire. During his four-year term, he unlocked a devolution deal and led the region through Covid-19 and severe flooding.
After leaving the mayoralty, he was appointed Shadow Security Minister in September 2023.
Education and early career
Dan graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in International Politics and Strategic Studies before attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
From Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Parachute Regiment and subsequently deployed to Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
His service included: Platoon Commander with 1 Para, Aide-de-Camp to General Sir Mike Jackson, and Adjutant 3 Para.
On promotion to major, he worked as a staff planner in the Permanent Joint Headquarters and then at the Army’s Headquarters.
Personal life
In 2011 Dan was awarded an MBE for his service in the British Army, making him the first serving MP to be decorated for military service for a number of years.
Previous holders of this role
The Rt Hon John Healey MP
2024 to 2026
The Rt Hon Grant Shapps
2023 to 2024
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace
2019 to 2023
The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt
2019 to 2019
The Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP
2017 to 2019
The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon
2014 to 2017
The Rt Hon Philip Hammond
2011 to 2014
The Rt Hon Liam Fox
2010 to 2011