of Engineering & Technology (formerly Institution of Electrical Engineers) (2005–2006). He was knighted in the 1999 New Year Honours. Sir John is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Institute of Physics. He holds honorary Doctor of Engineering degrees from the Universities of Bath, Southampton and Brunel. He was a founding member of the British Government's Technology Foresight programme. Appointed Chairman of the Medical Research Council by the Government, a position he took up in October 2006, he succeeded Sir Anthony Cleaver who had been in the post since 1998. Cleaver welcomed Chisholm's appointment stating him as a strong advocate for research. "Sir John's passion in promoting the value of research will be invaluable to the Medical Research Council as we enter a further period of change." In 2007 the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology, after describing him as vague and evasive in answering questions, said "we have serious reservations as to whether Sir John is the right person to guide the MRC Executive through the coming period of change". Despite his lack of medical qualifications, the Government refuted this statement saying that "Sir John has a first class background in business and has all the qualities and the perspective needed to chair the MRC Council successfully through this period of change...". The Government also stated in response to the report by House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology that "The MRC is entering a period of change as the Centre's role in developing research evidence to support decision making in policy and practice was highlighted in the Cooksey report recommendations are put into effect. The new Chairman's career record—in particular his experience in managing change and translating research into marketable products—indicates that he should be well suited to a non-executive Chairman's role at this stage in the MRC's evolution." Chisholm was appointed Chairman of NESTA (National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts) on the first of November 2009. In 2010, Chisholm retired from the QinetiQ board, being replaced as Chairman by Mark Elliott. He retired as MRC Chairman in September 2012, replaced by Donald Brydon. Notes References Sir John Chisholm biography at IEE Sir John Chisholm MRC biography Andrew Davidson "Interview: The man who put the Q into QinetiQ" The Sunday Times March 27, 2005 "The spoils of war" Telegraph.co.uk July 24, 2005 Report of House