Warren Tucker
Encyclopedia
Warren Tucker is a senior New Zealand intelligence officer
. He is currently director of the Security Intelligence Service
.
Tucker was originally an officer in the New Zealand Army
, holding the rank of Major
. He has a doctorate in electrical engineering
from the University of Canterbury
, and later joined the Government Communications Security Bureau
(GCSB), New Zealand's primary signals intelligence agency. He became head of communications security
in 1982, and in 1983, he was appointed Director of Policy and Plans. From 1984 to 1989, he was the GCSB's liaison officer to the NSA
in Washington. On his return, he became Director of Operations (effectively deputy director of the GCSB), and in 1996, he became the Intelligence Co-ordinator in the office of the Prime Minister
. He became the third director of the GCSB in 1999, replacing Ray Parker. In 2006, it was announced that he would succeed Richard Woods
as director of another New Zealand intelligence agency, the Security Intelligence Service, on 1 November.
On 1 November 2010, Tucker was reappointed for a further two-year term as Director.
New Zealand intelligence agencies
New Zealand's intelligence agencies and units have existed, with some interruption, since World War II. At present, New Zealand's intelligence community has approximately 500 employees, and has a combined budget of around NZ$80 million.-Standalone agencies:...
. He is currently director of the Security Intelligence Service
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government.-Purpose:As a civilian organisation, the Security Intelligence Service takes no part in the enforcement of security...
.
Tucker was originally an officer in the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
, holding the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. He has a doctorate in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, and later joined the Government Communications Security Bureau
Government Communications Security Bureau
The Government Communications Security Bureau is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government.The mission statement is given as:To contribute to the national security of New Zealand through:...
(GCSB), New Zealand's primary signals intelligence agency. He became head of communications security
Communications security
Communications security is the discipline of preventing unauthorized interceptors from accessing telecommunications in an intelligible form, while still delivering content to the intended recipients. In the United States Department of Defense culture, it is often referred to by the abbreviation...
in 1982, and in 1983, he was appointed Director of Policy and Plans. From 1984 to 1989, he was the GCSB's liaison officer to the NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
in Washington. On his return, he became Director of Operations (effectively deputy director of the GCSB), and in 1996, he became the Intelligence Co-ordinator in the office of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
. He became the third director of the GCSB in 1999, replacing Ray Parker. In 2006, it was announced that he would succeed Richard Woods
Richard Woods
Edward "Richard" Woods, CNZM is Chairman of the Board of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, a New Zealand Government Agency that ensures compliance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act - HSNO Act 1996...
as director of another New Zealand intelligence agency, the Security Intelligence Service, on 1 November.
On 1 November 2010, Tucker was reappointed for a further two-year term as Director.