Kevin O'Donoghue

General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, (born 9 December 1947) is a retired British Army officer and former Chief of Defence Materiel. He retired from the service in December 2010, being succeeded as Chief of Defence Materiel by Bernard Gray.

Early life O'Donoghue was born on 9 December 1947, to Phillip James O'Donoghue and Winifred Mary O'Donoghue.

Military career O'Donoghue joined the Territorial Army in 1968. He was commissioned in the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 10 October 1968. He was attending university and had previously been an officer cadet. he converted to a Regular Commission and spent the next 5 years in the British Army of the Rhine. His tenure ended on 10 May 2009.

O'Donoghue was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2005 New Year Honours, and became Chief of Defence Logistics on 1 January. When the Defence Logistics Organisation merged with the Defence Procurement Agency on 2 April 2007, he became the first Chief of Defence Materiel. and to the honorary role of Master General of Logistics on 1 June 2009. He was the first to hold this appointment. His tenured ended on 1 June 2012.

O'Donoghue relinquished the post of Chief of Defence Materiel in December 2010, and officially retired from the British Army on 19 March 2011.

Later life From 2010 to 2017, O'Donoghue was Chairman of SSAFA. He has served as the Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State, an officer of the Royal Household, since 2013.