Ministerial role

Secretary of State for Defence

Contents

Responsibilities

The Secretary of State for Defence has overall responsibility for the business of the department including:

  • strategic operations and operational strategy, including membership of the National Security Council
  • defence planning, programme and resource allocation
  • strategic international partnerships: US, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, NATO
  • nuclear operations, policy and organisations
  • strategic communications

Current role holder: The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP

The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP was appointed Secretary of State for Defence on 2 November 2017. He was Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) from 14 July 2016 to 2 November 2017.

He was elected Conservative MP for South Staffordshire in May 2010.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP

    • 2014 to 2017

  2. The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP

    • 2011 to 2014

  3. The Rt Hon Liam Fox MP

    • 2010 to 2011

Announcements

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  1. UK to double F-35 fleet with 17-jet order, Defence Secretary announces

    • News story

  2. First ever UK-wide veterans strategy launched

    • News story

  3. Army start biggest military robot exercise in British history, Defence Secretary announces

    • News story

  4. 100 years on from the Armistice, the nation remembers

    • Press release

  5. Post Office and MOD agree new partnership on veterans employment

    • News story

  6. UK cements position in Gulf with new joint base in Oman

    • News story

  7. Update: air strikes against Daesh

    • News story

  8. Historic day for the military as all roles are opened to women

    • News story

  9. Dutch Royals welcomed to London for their first state visit

    • Press release

  10. Defence Secretary welcomes Qatari counterpart to UK

    • News story
View all announcements