Defence Safety Authority Explained

Agency Name:	Defence Safety Authority
Formed:	1 April 2015
Jurisdiction:	United Kingdom
Headquarters:	Main Building, Whitehall, Westminster
Chief1 Name:	Air Marshal Stephen Shell
Parent Agency:	Ministry of Defence

The Defence Safety Authority (DSA) is an agency of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence which regulates safety and investigates accidents in the UK's Armed Forces.

The DSA was launched on 1 April 2015 and brings together the Defence Safety and Environment Authority (DSEA), Military Aviation Authority (MAA) and Defence Fire Safety Regulator (DFSR), to form a single common managed organization under the leadership of a 3-star Director General (DG) – DG DSA.^[1] The Director-General is also the head of the Defence Accident Investigation Branch (DAIB)^[2] (Formerly the Military Air Accident Investigation Branch (MilAAIB) and the Land Accident Investigation Team (LAIT)).^[3]

Directors-General

The Directors-General have been:The Directors-General have been:

• 2015–2017: Air Marshal Richard Garwood^[1]
• 2017–2019: Lieutenant-General Richard Felton^[4]
• 2019–2022: Air Marshal Sue Gray^[5]
• 2022–present: Air Marshal Stephen Shell^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: New Defence Safety Authority launched today. 1 April 2015. 18 April 2017.
2. Web site: Defence Accident Investigation Branch (DAIB). GOV.UK.
3. Web site: Civil Service World. MOD launch integrated defence safety authority. 2 March 2015. 18 April 2017.
4. Web site: Generals: April 2017. 18 April 2017.
5. News: Nicholls . Dominic . RAF Engineer becomes most senior woman to have ever served in Britain's armed forces . 20 February 2019 . The Telegraph . 20 February 2019.
6. Web site: RAF Senior Appointments. 9 January 2022.