Lord Hutton of Furness was ennobled in the Dissolution Honours List of May 2010, and officially took his seat on the Lords on 1 July.
John Hutton served as the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness from 1992 to 2010 and held several Cabinet positions between 2005 and 2009. He was Secretary of State for Defence from 2008-2009, and published his first book on military history in 2008. It’s entitled ‘Kitchener’s Men – The King’s Own Royal Lancasters on the Western Front 1915-1918″, and published by Pen and Sword Books.
Welcoming his chairmanship, Lord Hutton said: “It’s a great honour to have been appointed as chairman of RUSI. The Institute is a very special organisation and a centre of unrivalled expertise here at home and across the world.”
He added: “At a time of potentially great change in our country’s defence policies, I look forward to working with Michael Clarke and an outstanding team to help us meet the challenges of the future.”
“The right sort of chairman for RUSI”
Professor Michael Clarke, RUSI’s rirector, responded: “Lord Hutton is exactly the right sort of chairman for RUSI. A former Minister of Defence, a veteran politician held in high regard throughout Parliament, a natural military historian and a modern entrepreneur.”
Clarke continued: “We could not be more delighted with his appointment as our chairman, and all our members of staff look forward to working with him to push forward RUSI’s ambitious plans for its future as an international think-tank with a global reputation.”
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is an independent think-tank for defence and security. A unique institution founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, it embodies nearly two centuries of forward thinking, free discussion and careful reflection on all matters related to national defence and security.
RUSI consistently brings to the fore vital policy issues to both domestic and global audiences, enhancing its growing reputation as a ‘thought-leader institute’, winning Prospect magazine’s Think Tank of the Year Award in 2008 and Foreign Policy Think Tank of the Year Award in 2009.
British institution with an international perspective
The organisation is a British institution, but operates with an international perspective. Satellite offices in Doha and Washington DC reinforce its global reach. Over the years, RUSI has amassed an outstanding reputation for quality and objectivity. Its heritage and location at the heart of Whitehall, together with a range of contacts both inside and outside government, gives RUSI a unique insight and authority.
RUSI provides corporate and individual membership packages offering exclusive access to the UK’s premier forum on defence and security. Through its publications and events, RUSI members benefit from authoritative analysis, insight and networks.
RUSI is renowned for its specialist coverage of defence and security issues in the broadest sense, and its expertise has been used by governments, parliament and other key stakeholders over many years.
