Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service
Encyclopedia
The Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service is the head of the Secret Intelligence Service
(commonly known as MI6), the United Kingdom
's external intelligence agency
. The Chief reports to the Foreign Secretary.
By custom, the current Chief uses the initial 'C' to sign documents.
The present Chief is Sir John Sawers
, who has held the role since November 2009.
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
(commonly known as MI6), the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's external intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
. The Chief reports to the Foreign Secretary.
By custom, the current Chief uses the initial 'C' to sign documents.
The present Chief is Sir John Sawers
John Sawers
Sir Robert John Sawers, KCMG is a British diplomat and senior civil servant. He is the current Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service...
, who has held the role since November 2009.
- 1909–1923 : Sir Mansfield Smith-CummingMansfield Smith-CummingCaptain Sir George Mansfield Smith-Cumming, KCMG, CB was the first director of what would become the Secret Intelligence Service , also known as MI6...
- 1923–1939 : Admiral Sir Hugh SinclairHugh SinclairAdmiral Sir Hugh Francis Paget Sinclair KCB , nicknamed "Quex", was a British intelligence officer. Between 1919 and 1921, he was Director of British Naval Intelligence, and helped to set up the Secret Intelligence Service before the Second World War.-Career:Sinclair joined the Royal Navy in the...
- 1939–1952 : Major-General Sir Stewart MenziesStewart MenziesMajor General Sir Stewart Graham Menzies, KCB, KCMG, DSO, MC was Chief of MI6 , British Secret Intelligence Service, during and after World War II.-Early life, family:...
- 1953–1956 : Sir John SinclairJohn Alexander SinclairSir John Alexander Sinclair, KCMG, CB, OBE was Head of the Secret Intelligence Service from 1953 to 1956.-Career:Sinclair was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps. In 1938 he was appointed an Instructor at the Staff College, Camberley...
- 1956–1968 : Sir Richard WhiteDick WhiteSir Dick Goldsmith White, KCMG, KBE , was a British intelligence officer. He was Director-General of MI5 from 1953 to 1956, and Head of the Secret Intelligence Service from 1956 to 1968.-Career:...
- 1968–1973 : Sir John Rennie
- 1973–1978 : Sir Maurice OldfieldMaurice OldfieldSir Maurice Oldfield GCMG, CBE , was a British intelligence officer and espionage administrator.-Early life:...
- 1979–1982 : Sir Dick FranksDick FranksSir Arthur Temple "Dick" Franks KCMG was Head of the Secret Intelligence Service from 1979 to 1982.-Career:...
- 1982–1985 : Sir Colin FiguresColin FiguresSir Colin Frederick Figures KCMG, OBE was Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1981 to 1985. He was deputy secretary and Intelligence Co-ordinator of the Cabinet Office from 1985 to 1989....
- 1985–1989 : Sir Christopher CurwenChristopher CurwenSir Christopher Keith Curwen, KCMG was Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1985 to 1989.-Career:Educated at Sherborne School and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, Curwen was commissioned into the 4th Queen's Own Hussars in 1948...
- 1989–1994 : Sir Colin McCollColin McCollSir Colin Hugh Verel McColl, KCMG was Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1989 to 1994.-Career:Educated at Shrewsbury School and at Queen's College, Oxford, McColl joined the diplomatic service in 1950...
- 1994–1999 : Sir David SpeddingDavid SpeddingSir David Rolland Spedding KCMG, CVO, OBE was Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1994 to 1999.-Career:Spedding was educated at Sherborne School and read history at Hertford College, Oxford...
- 1999–2004 : Sir Richard DearloveRichard DearloveSir Richard Billing Dearlove, KCMG, OBE was head of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 1999 until 6 May 2004.-Career:...
- 2004–2009 : Sir John ScarlettJohn ScarlettSir John McLeod Scarlett, KCMG, OBE was Director General of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 2004 to 2009...
- 2009–present : Sir John SawersJohn SawersSir Robert John Sawers, KCMG is a British diplomat and senior civil servant. He is the current Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service...