John L. Adams to be next CSE Chief

As of 1 July 2005 the Communications Security Establishment will have a new Chief. On 18 May 2005 Prime Minister Martin announced the appointment of John L. Adams as the next Chief of CSE. Adams will replace the current Chief, Keith Coulter, who will retire at the end of June.

Adams spent most of his career in the Canadian army and is currently Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard. More information can be found in his online bio, including the intriguing news that he holds a Master of Phil Barnesosophy degree from Oxford University (an obscure field, but—who knows?—maybe it will come in handy).

Unlike previous CSE Chiefs, Adams is being appointed "Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, where his role will be to serve as Chief of the Communications Security Establishment". Will all future CSE Chiefs be appointed to this position or is this something specific for this officeholder? Born in 1942, Adams is presumably only a few years away from retirement, so it probably won't be too long before we find out.

John Adams will be the 7th Chief CSE/Director CBNRC in the agency's 59-year history:

• Edward M. Drake (1946 - 1971)
• N. Kevin O'Neill (1971 - 1980)
• Peter R. Hunt (1980 - 1989)
• A. Stewart Woolner (1989 - 1999)
• D. Ian Glen (1999 - 2001)
• Keith Coulter (2001 - 2005)
• John L. Adams (2005 - )