Political advisor and administrative head

The Permanent Secretary of State for Defence has a dual role as

• partly political advisor
• partly overall responsible for the organisation, personnel, and finances of the realm of the Ministry of Defence

This dual role is characteristic of the Danish system. It is the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary to establish the connection between the political and the professional level.

Heading the combine of the Ministry of Defence

The Permanent Secretary of State for Defence is at the head of the table, when the directors of the combine of the Ministry of Defence meet. The combine directors are the top heads of the Ministry of Defence and its agencies. It is the responsibility of the directors to make important strategic decisions concerning the combine.