The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) named Anthony Reeves as its first Director General Innovation to lead an area that includes about 4,800 experts and scientists, which the ministry says is intended to speed technology adoption.
The MOD announced the appointment Oct. 28 after an external competition. Reeves is due to take up the post this autumn as a three-star senior civil servant within National Armaments and a member of the organization’s Executive Committee, the ministry said.
The National Armaments Innovation area brings together teams from the Defence Investment Unit, the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, the Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre and UK Defence Innovation. The ministry estimates the combined group includes about 4,800 experts and scientists.
The MOD says its science, technology and innovation funding totals £3.7 billion over four years. Reeves will oversee a ringfenced £1.6 billion for defense innovation and support a separate £2.1 billion investment in core science and technology.
The ministry says the area is meant to help emerging technologies reach the Armed Forces sooner and strengthen ties with industry, academia, government departments and allies. It says access to technology is needed to maintain the military’s operational advantage.
National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said the appointment would connect innovation with military readiness and economic growth, and pointed to lessons from Ukraine. Reeves said, “Innovation in Defence must be about mindset before toolset.”
Reeves joins the ministry from Deloitte. The MOD said his previous employers included Microsoft, PA Consulting and Detica. He also served as a British Army infantry officer, with deployments including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone.
