New leadership appointed for Dstl's Board of Directors
**New Chair Appointed at Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)**
Adrian Belton has been named as the new Chair of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Board, effective from August 1, 2019. He is replacing Sir David Pepper, who has been the Dstl Chair since 2014.
Belton brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously chaired the Board of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment from 2008 to 2013. He also served as Chair of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust since 2017 and is a lay member of the Council of the University of Sheffield.
Before joining Dstl, Belton served as Chief Executive of the Government's Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) from 2009 to 2014. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of the Central Science Laboratory.
Belton's appointment has been met with enthusiasm by Gary Aitkenhead, Dstl's Chief Executive. Aitkenhead expressed his delight at Belton's appointment and looks forward to working with him. He also expressed confidence that Belton's expertise and leadership will be invaluable in guiding Dstl through its next stage of development.
Sir Stephen Lovegrove, MOD Permanent Secretary, also expressed delight at Belton's appointment as the new Chair of Dstl. Lovegrove praised Belton's extensive experience and knowledge, and expressed confidence that he will provide strong leadership and guidance to the Dstl Board.
The Dstl Board, which Belton will lead, supports and challenges the Dstl Executive in the development of business strategies, plans, business cases, and targets. The Board also monitors Dstl's business performance against the approved corporate plan.
Belton is familiar with the world-class nature of the science and technology at Dstl, having previously worked in partnership with Dstl and CAST during his tenure as Chief Executive of FERA. He also oversaw the UK Government Decontamination Service as part of a four-way merger that led to the establishment of FERA.
Belton is excited and looking forward to working with Gary Aitkenhead and the rest of the Dstl Board. He expressed his eagerness to contribute to Dstl's important work in supporting the UK's defence and security.
Prior to his appointment at Dstl, Belton was also a lay member of the Council of the University of Sheffield, where he sat on the Audit Committee and chaired the Estates Committee. After serving as Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Training Board from 2014 to 2016, Belton pursued a non-Executive career.
Belton's appointment comes after his recent successor appointment at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on June 2, 2025, where he took over from Elizabeth[2]. However, specific details about his career or past roles are not available in the provided search results.
- The new Chair, Adrian Belton, will leverage his expertise in health-and-wellness, gained from chairing the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, to contribute to Dstl's workplace-wellness initiatives.
- Given the increasing relevance of technology in the domain of science and policy-and-legislation, Belton's extensive experience in the field will be instrumental in guiding Dstl's tech-focused projects.
- As Dstl's new Chair, Belton will advocate for fitness-and-exercise policies within the organization, fostering a culture of wellness.
- Amidst the general news of Belton's appointment, there is a growing expectation that he will bring a fresh perspective to the realm of politics, particularly in the context of defence and security.
