Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence
What are you most proud of achieving in 2011?
Helping to reduce the historic over-commitment of the MoD’s budget. For the first time in many years, we are within sight of a balanced budget.
How has the shape and structure of the department changed during 2011?
We are taking forward the biggest organisational change programme that defence has seen in a generation, to deliver the Strategic Defence and Security Review and Lord Levene’s Defence Reform Review.
So far, we have launched two new support organisations (the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and Defence Business Services) and have appointed the first chief of the new Joint Forces Command, which will launch in April next year. Over the next twelve months even more radical change will follow, touching every part of the department and the three services.
What is the most important thing the department must achieve during 2012?
Most important is success on operations – in Afghanistan, where we will continue to work to improve the security of the Afghan people and develop the Afghan security forces to allow successful transition; and in Libya, where our efforts, together with those of our NATO allies, culminated in the liberation of the country and the promise of democratic elections. After that, it’s taking forward the transformation programme implementing the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the organisational changes, including completing the current planning round on time and within budget.
How is the civil service likely to change during 2012?
Every department is affected by these turbulent times for the economy. Workforce reductions mean we are all looking at different ways of working so we can deliver services with fewer people. For defence, this means working hard on developing the agility to respond to the changing threats to the UK’s national security.
Which historical, mythological or contemporary figure would you most like to join for Christmas dinner?
JS Bach – his Christmas Oratorio would be the perfect appetiser!