View source for Director General of MI5

{{Short description|Head of the UK's Security Service}}
__NOTOC__
{{Infobox official post
| post = Director General<br /><small>of the Security Service (MI5)</small>
| body = 
| insignia = 
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = 
| image = Ken McCallum MI5.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| incumbent = [[Ken McCallum]]
| incumbentsince = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2020|03|30}}
| department = [[MI5|Security Service]] (MI5)
| appointer = [[Home Secretary]]
| termlength = No fixed term
| residence = [[Thames House]], London, UK
| formation = [[Security Service Act 1989]]
| succession = 
| inaugural = [[Vernon Kell]]<br />1909
| website = https://www.mi5.gov.uk/
}}
The '''Director General of the Security Service''' is the head of the Security Service (commonly known as [[MI5]]), the [[United Kingdom]]'s internal [[counter-intelligence]] and [[security agency]].  The Director General is assisted by a Deputy Director General and an Assistant Director General, and reports to the [[Home Secretary]], although the Security Service is not formally part of the [[Home Office]].

==List of directors general==
Directors General have been:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mi5.gov.uk/home/about-us/who-we-are/staff-and-management/former-dgs.html|title=Former Directors General|access-date=25 October 2014}}</ref>
#[[Vernon Kell|Maj Gen Sir Vernon Kell]], 1909–1940
#[[Oswald Allen Harker|Brigadier 'Jasper' Harker]], ''[[Acting (law)|Acting]]'', June 1940 – April 1941<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.statesecrets.co.uk/who/index-h.shtml|publisher = State Secrets...|title = Oswald Allen Harker (1886–1968)|access-date = 18 November 2007|url-status = usurped|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071007065049/http://www.statesecrets.co.uk/who/index-h.shtml|archive-date = 7 October 2007}}</ref>
#[[David Petrie|Sir David Petrie]], 1941–1946
#[[Percy Sillitoe|Sir Percy Sillitoe]], 1946–1953
#[[Dick White|Sir Dick White]], 1953–1956
#[[Roger Hollis|Sir Roger Hollis]], 1956–1965
#[[Martin Furnival Jones|Sir Martin Furnival Jones]], 1965–1972
#[[Michael Hanley|Sir Michael Hanley]], 1972–1978
#[[Howard Smith (diplomat)|Sir Howard Smith]], 1978–1981
#[[John Jones (MI5 officer)|Sir John Jones]], 1981–1985
#[[Antony Duff|Sir Antony Duff]], 1985–1988
#[[Patrick Walker (MI5 officer)|Sir Patrick Walker]], 1988–1992
#[[Stella Rimington|Dame Stella Rimington]], 1992–1996
#[[Stephen Lander|Sir Stephen Lander]], 1996–2002
#[[Eliza Manningham-Buller|Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller]], 2002–2007
#[[Jonathan Evans, Baron Evans of Weardale|Sir Jonathan Evans]], 2007–2013
#[[Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere|Sir Andrew Parker]], 2013–2020
#[[Ken McCallum|Sir Ken McCallum]], from 2020

==See also==
*[[Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service]]
*[[Director of the Government Communications Headquarters]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.mi5.gov.uk/home/about-us/who-we-are/staff-and-management/former-dgs.html List of Directors General on the MI5 website]

[[Category:Directors General of MI5| ]]
[[Category:Directors of intelligence agencies|*MI5]]