We were delighted to hear that Chloë Squires, OH 1989-96, Director General of the Home Office's Homeland Security Group has become a Companion of the Order of the Bath for public service.

Chloë started in the Senior School when it first became co-educational and continued to gain her GCSEs and A-Levels, before continuing her education at Pembroke College at the University of Oxford, studying Modern History.  After graduating from university, she joined the UK Civil Service fast stream, first working in Edinburgh before moving down to London.

She has spent most of her career working in the national security sphere on both domestic and international issues including stints in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Cabinet Office. Amongst other areas she has led on NATO, national security legislation and compliance and crisis management.

Cyber security has been a theme throughout Chloë’s career, having jointly authored the UK’s first Cyber Security Strategy. She has since worked as both Director Cyber in the FCDO and as Director of Strategy, as part of the team that set up the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre in 2016.

Currently, she is the Director General for Homeland Security in the Home Office.  The Homeland Security group sits at the heart of the UK’s national security system, setting strategic direction and playing a crucial role enabling role in national security and law enforcement operations. Its mission is to reduce national security risks to the UK’s people, prosperity, and freedoms. It focuses on the highest harm risks to the homeland, whether from terrorists, state actors, or cyber and economic criminals.

Chloë lives in London with her husband, daughter, and 2 cats.

The Order of the Bath consists of up to 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross (GCB), 295 Knights and Dames Commander (KCB/DCB), and 1455 Companions (CB), in addition to the Sovereign and the Great Master. It is the fourth most senior order of merit in Britain, after the Orders of the Garter, the Thistle, and of St. Patrick (which is a dormant order).

The title of the Order comes from medieval days, when soldiers were prepared to receive their knighthood by a ritualised process of washing, which symbolised spiritual purification. The Order was founded by George I in 1725, and it was opened up to women in 1971.

Related Article:

• Notable Alumni: Chloë Squires