Deputy Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service
| Deputy Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | DCSS |
The pattern seems to be that the Deputy Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service generally goes on to become the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service.
Secrecy
In contrast to the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, the deputy chiefs of MI6, (like the holder of the now defunct position assistant chiefs of MI6) are not named. As a result, the list below is highly uncertain and should be looked upon as the best available conjecture until hard evidence emerges.
Multiple Deputy Chiefs
On occasions, more than one person has held this office simultaneously. In March 1943, Valentine Vivian's designation was changed from DCSS (Deputy Chief of the Secret Service) to Deputy Directy/SP, sharing the rank of Deputy Director with 3 service appointees (John Cordeaux, Edward Beddington-Behrens and Lionel Payne).
No Deputy Chiefs
The Observer reported in 2003 that "the post of MI6 deputy chief is normally left vacant, and is filled only when the serving 'C' has announced his departure and wants to groom his successor".[1] A deputy chief was appointed around July 2003.[2]
