Sir Ronnie Flanagan (52), the son of a north Belfast shipyard worker, joined the RUC in 1970.
He served initially in Belfast as constable and sergeant, and has served all over the North.
His was a rapid rise through the ranks. In 1982 he was appointed as a Detective Inspector in Special Branch; in 1983 he was made Chief Inspector with responsibility for selection and training of specialist anti-terrorist units.
He was appointed Assistant Chief Constable in 1992 and in 1994 became Head of Special Branch. In February 1996 he was appointed as Deputy Chief Constable. He was appointed Chief Constable in November of that year to succeed Sir Hugh Annesley. A passionate supporter of the peace process he has harshly criticised both dissident republicans and militant loyalists who might seek to undermine it.
He oversaw the transition of the RUC to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland in the wake of the Patten Report. He is married with three sons and is said to include among his interests reading - with a particular love of Yeats's poetry - music and rugby, which he played and coached at senior level. He was awarded the OBE in Queen Elizabeth's 1996 New Year's Honours and received a Knighthood in the 1999 New Year's Honours.
When Sir Ronnie announced his decision to retire, in Decem- ber, the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble described him as a great communicator, who had presided over the RUC and PSNI through a "difficult and painful transition".