New GCHQ departmental historian revealed

Today we reveal David as the new GCHQ departmental historian.

Following in the footsteps of the retiring Tony Comer, David becomes the ninth historian at the intelligence, cyber and security agency. In his role, he will help to tell the story of our history, with fascinating stories of our amazing people from our formation in 1919, right through to the present day.

As part of his role, preserving and telling our one hundred years of history, he will have access to the GCHQ archives containing around 16 million documents.

He said:

The GCHQ archives are like a sweet shop for me. It’s my job as departmental historian to raise awareness of our history with our staff within, but also to raise awareness among the public. We’ve got many stories within the archives which need to be brought to life.

Starting at the organisation in 2002, David has worked across various areas of our mission, in turn discovering a real passion for history and signals intelligence, inspired by the likes of Brigadier John Tiltman and the achievements of the famous cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park.

I’ve developed a real understanding as to how signals intelligence works, and through this a genuine passion for our history and the way that GCHQ has operated right the way back to the end of the First World War, through our time at Bletchley Park all the way up to the modern day.

David’s appointment comes ahead of the publication of the Authorised History: Behind the Enigma, written by Professor John Ferris.