November 2009 - present
Qian Tang (China)

2007 - 2009
Nicholas Burnett  (United Kingdom)

2005 - 2006
Peter Smith (United States)

acting ADG 2001 and 2005
Aïcha Bah Diallo  (Guinea)

2001 - 2004
John Sagar Daniel (United Kingdom)

acting ADG April 2000 – December 2000
Jacques Hallak  (France)

1989 – 1999
Colin Nelson Power  (Australia)

acting ADG 1988-1989
Akihiro Chiba (Japan)

1975 - 1988
Sema Tanguiane (ex-USSR)

acting ADG 1974-1975
Leo Fernig  (South Africa)

1970 - 1974
Amadou-Mahtar MBow  (Senegal)

1967 - 1970
Carlos Flexa Ribeiro  (Brazil)

acting ADG 1966-1967
Jean Guiton  (France)

1963 – 1966
Gabriel Betancur-Mejia  (Colombia)

1961 - 1962
Shannon McCune  (United States)

1960 - 1961
Masunori Hiratsuka (Japan)

1957 – 1960
Harold Loper (United States)

1950 - 1956
Herbert Lionel Elvin (United Kingdom)

acting ADG 1949-1950
Jean Piaget (Switzerland)

1948-1949 
Clarence Edward Beeby (New Zealand)

1946 – 1948
Kuo Yu-Shou (China)