In 2002, Sir David Omand became the first UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator, exercising overall direction on behalf of the Prime Minister of the national counter-terrorism strategy and building national resilience ("homeland security"). He also acted as the Government's Chief Crisis Manager for Civil Contingencies. Before that, Sir David was Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, having previously been Director of the Government Communications Headquarters. He spent much of his earlier career in the Ministry of Defence, including as Deputy Secretary for Policy, as Under Secretary in charge of the defence programme, and as Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State. Sir David served for three years in Brussels on loan to the Diplomatic Service as Defence Counsellor to NATO and for seven years on the UK's Joint Intelligence Committee. He retired in April 2005 and is currently a visiting Professor at the War Studies Department of King's College, London.