The UK’s first ever Armed Forces Commissioner – Former Air Commodore Polly Miller-Perkins CBE – has been appointed by the Defence Secretary John Healey MP.
The appointment delivers on the federal government’s key manifesto dedication to present serving personnel and their households an unbiased voice to enhance service life.
The Armed Forces Commissioner is a new statutory workplace that’s an unbiased champion and direct level of contact for personnel and their households. Polly has unprecedented powers to analyze welfare points and lift considerations that affect service life, together with tools, housing, and unacceptable behaviours. The workplace was up and operating and Polly was in submit on Monday 30 March 2026.
Appointing an Armed Forces Commissioner was a lead defence manifesto dedication by this Government to resume the nation’s contract with those that serve.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP mentioned:
Our Armed Forces are on the coronary heart of our nation’s safety. With calls for on defence rising, from the battle within the Middle East to rising Russian aggression, we’re asking extra of our army, and it’s proper that we proceed to step up our help for them and their households.
I’m proud that we legislated in our first yr of presidency to create this new Commissioner position, with powers to problem Ministers and army leaders and to report on to Parliament.
Polly brings deep expertise of service life and distinctive management as this nation’s first ever Armed Forces Commissioner, she would be the unbiased champion and direct level of contact that our Armed Forces and their households deserve. Our message to the Armed Forces group is obvious: this authorities is in your aspect.
Armed Forces Commissioner, Polly Miller-Perkins CBE, mentioned:
As the primary Armed Forces Commissioner, I’m deeply honoured to tackle a job devoted to championing the lived expertise of our Service personnel and their households. Throughout my profession in Defence, schooling and public service, I’ve been lucky to steer groups in among the most difficult and rewarding environments throughout the UK and abroad. Those experiences have formed my perception that individuals are on the coronary heart of all the pieces we do — and that once we actually hearken to them, we strengthen and enhance the programs that help them.
Ultimately, my function as Commissioner is easy: to make sure the lived expertise of those that serve is known, valued and repeatedly improved. I’ll work tirelessly with Serving communities throughout all Services to know private experiences and guarantee considerations attain the individuals who can ship actual and lasting change.
Commissioner Miller-Perkins will be capable to go to UK Defence websites unannounced, fee stories, and can report on to Parliament to carry the Government to account. Personnel and their households will be capable to contact the Commissioner about points affecting them, with the Commissioner empowered to analyze these considerations, search related data from the Ministry of Defence, and make suggestions for enchancment.
She will be capable to examine particular person welfare considerations, undertake thematic critiques into systemic points affecting service life, and report findings on to Parliament – strengthening transparency and public understanding of welfare issues throughout Defence.
Former RAF Air Commodore Polly Perkins served for over 30 years within the Royal Air Force, specialising in logistics and holding senior management roles together with Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, British Forces Cyprus. She deployed on operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan and labored with NATO companions to enhance multinational logistics. She holds an MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London and was awarded a CBE for her service.
The resolution to nominate a commissioner was impressed and modelled on the Commissioner for the Armed Forces in Germany. They have been acquired positively by German personnel.
The Interim Commissioner will perform all of the capabilities of the Commissioner and a everlasting appointment is because of be made within the coming months by an open competitors.
The Armed Forces Commissioner position got here into regulation below the Armed Forces Commissioner Act on 3 September 2025. They will take duty for the prevailing Service Complaints Ombudsman and can guarantee there is no such thing as a break in that service.
