Major General David Burden CB CVO CBE

Libertine Security are delighted to announce that we have been able to secure the services of David Burden CB CVO CBE as our Corporate Affairs Consultant.

We are very privileged to be working with David as he already has many commitments in his retirement but we have no doubt that his wealth of experience from his varied and illustrious career will be invaluable in helping LGS with its expansion plans in 2010 and beyond. 

 "I am delighted to have joined Libertine Global Solutions as a consultant for corporate affairs. I will strive to bring my experience to all the company's work by assisting the staff and helping the Managing Director with both existing clients and new business.I have been particularly impressed by the commitment of the UK based employees and I am sure that I will find the same in the countries where LGS is providing it's holistic approach to security requirements.I believe my background makes me particularly well placed to judge the quality of the staff and to help ensure that the exacting standards or recruitment and accreditation are maintained. The company's high reputation has clearly been built on the excellence of key personnel and I shall play my part in building on this crucial contributor to high standards wherever LGS delivers it's services"

David Burden retired from the Army in 1999 and joined Westminster Abbey as Receiver General [head of the lay administration] and Chairman of Westminster Abbey Enterprises Ltd, retiring from these two appointments in late 2008.  As part of his duties at the Abbey, he was Chairman of the Pensions Trust, a member of the investment panel and of the Westminster World Heritage Site steering group. He was responsible for the non religious side of many great national services and events at the Abbey, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Diamond Wedding celebrations, the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War 11 and The Queen Mother’s funeral. His responsibilities included protocol, security, press and broadcasting and financial arrangements. The Queen appointed him a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2008. He was a Colonel Commandant of the Royal Logistic Corps until April 2008 and was also Honorary Colonel of 151 [Greater London] Logistic Support Regiment RLC [V].  He is Vice-Chairman and Director of the Regular Forces Employment Association and serves on a number of other Trusts, currently holding the Chairmanship of the early years charity Right from the Start.

He was commissioned into the RASC in 1964 and immediately was posted to Berlin, the first of six tours in Germany and during which he transferred to the RAOC.  These appointments were interspersed with staff and regimental appointments in UK including the MOD and Northern Ireland.  He served twice with the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land), on the staff and in command of a logistic company.  In 1981 he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and became Chief Personnel and Logistic Officer United Nations Force in Cyprus followed by the appointment of Commanding Officer 1 Armoured Division Ordnance Battalion.  As a Colonel in 1985 he was Deputy Chief of Staff Headquarters British Forces Hong Kong and then Assistant Chief of Staff G1 Headquarters BAOR in the rank of Brigadier.  In late 1991 he was promoted Major General and became Director General Resettlement in the Ministry of Defence where he ran the post Options for Change campaign ‘Access to Excellence – The Best Trained Workforce in Britain’.   The following year he led the final stages of the formation of the Royal Logistic Corps and then was its first Director General. He was appointed a Companion of the Bath. In July 1995 he was appointed to form the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow and then became its first Chief Executive and Military Secretary, his last serving appointment. After retiring as Colonel Commandant of the RLC he was appointed Honorary Ordnance Officer of HM Tower of London.

He attended the Staff College Camberley in 1975, his first term syndicate including General Sir Rupert Smith who commanded the Ist (UK) Armoured Division in the Gulf War and retired as DSACEUR, the National Defence College in 1981, a fellow course member being General Sir Mike Jackson, CGS 2003-2006 and the Royal College of Defence Studies course in 1988 which included Admiral Sir Michael Boyce who retired as CDS and now is Warden of the Cinque Ports and sits on the House of Lords. He is married to Sue and has two married daughters, Sophie and Harriet and there are three Grandchildren.He now lives in Suffolk.

He is a member of the MCC and President of the Highgate Taverners. He is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen. He was installed as Deputy High Bailiff of Westminster Abbey in December 2008.

David Burden