British Defence Staff

People are our most valuable asset and we have people working all over the United States.  We are truly a corporate team comprised of Military, Civilian and Locally Employed Civilians all working to realise one vision:

"To be the Ministry of Defence's acknowledged authority on UK/US Defence and Security issues, recognised by our stakeholders as adding high value to the UK/US relationship."

The Defence Attache is the senior advisor to Her Majesty's Ambassador to the US on defence issues, and as Head of the British Defence Staff in the United States has responsibility for some 350 military and civilian Ministry of Defence personnel based in over 30 states across the USA.  The British Defence Staff in the United States is led by the Defence Attache Major General Buster Howes.

Will Jessett, Minister Defence Material and Civil Secretary, is the senior MOD Civil Servant in the US.  He is reponsible for all aspects of the US-US defence relationship, and is focusing on acquisition and trade, strategy and defence transformation, and operational policy matters.

Although BDS-US is headquartered in the British Embassy Washington DC, the majority of our people are based outside DC.  Each person acts as an Ambassador fot the MOD, the Services and the UK.  Many are embedded in key US military and civilian establishments across the US, providing us with the very experience and influence we need.

The British Defence Staff in the United States is led by the Defence Attaché Maj Gen Buster Howes OBE. The Defence Attaché is the British Ambassador's senior adviser on defence issues, and as Head of the British Defence Staff in the United States has responsibility over 350 military and civilian MOD personnel located both within the Embassy and in over 30 states across the USA. The Defence Attaché is drawn rotationally from each of the three Services.

BDS Personnel Located Across the US