Defence Intelligence

Defence Intelligence is the intelligence arm of the Ministry of Defence. Until 2009, it was known as the Defence Intelligence Staff.

Defence Intelligence is headed by the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), a serving three star military officer.

People

Director-General Intelligence (1964-1984)

• Major-General Sir Kenneth Strong, 1964–1966
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle, rtd 1966-1968
• Air Marshal Sir Harold Maguire, rtd 1968-1972
• Vice-Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailly 1972-1975
• Lieutenant-General Sir David Willison, rtd 1975-1978
• Air Chief Marshal Sir John Aiken, rtd 1978-1981
• Vice-Admiral Sir Roy Halliday, rtd 1981-1984

Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Intelligence) (1964-1986)

• Vice-Admiral Sir Norman Denning 1964-1965
• Air Marshal Sir Harold Maguire 1965-1968
• Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Fyffe 1968-1971
• Vice-Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailly 1971-1972
• Lieutenant-General Sir David Willison 1972-1975
• Air Marshal Sir Richard Wakeford 1975-1978
• Vice-Admiral Sir Roy Halliday 1978-1981
• Lieutenant-General Sir James Glover 1981-1983
• Air Marshal Sir Michael Armitage 1983-1984

Chiefs of Defence Intelligence (1985-)

• Air Marshal Sir Michael Armitage 1984-1986
• Lieutenant-General Sir Derek Boorman 1986-1988
• Vice-Admiral Sir John Kerr 1988-1991
• Air Marshal Sir John Walker, 1991–1994
• Lieutenant-General Sir John Foley, 1994–1997
• Vice-Admiral Sir Alan West, 1997–2000
• Air Marshal Sir Joe French, 2000–2003
• Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway, 2003–2006
• Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach 2006 - 2009
• Air Marshal C M Nickols 2009 -
• Adrian Bird (2022 - )