A chief scout is the principal or head scout for an organization such as the military, colonial administration or expedition or a talent scout in performing, entertainment or creative arts, particularly sport. In sport, a chief scout can be the principal talent scout seeking new players or a tactical scout. ^{[1][2] [3][4][5][6][7][8]} A chief scout or chief of scouts was a person in charge of intelligence, reconnaissance, and scouting in the English Navy, armies or in expeditions, colonies or frontiers such as in the Americas and southern Africa. The title dates from at least the English Civil War.^{[citation needed]}.

Frederick Russell Burnham, was chief scout of the British South Africa Company and chief of scouts to field marshal Lord Roberts during the Boer War.^{[citation needed]}

Some organisations in the Scout Movement adopted the title Chief Scout for the uniformed head of the organization. In some^[which?] countries where Scouting is particularly well-established, the Chief Scout may^[vague] be the head of state.^[relevant?]

Examples of a chief scout include:

• Chief Scout (The Scout Association)
• Chief Scout (Scouting Ireland)
• Chief Scout Executive for the administrative head of the Boy Scouts of America
• List of Chief Scouts of the Polish Scouting Association
• Robert Baden-Powell, first Chief Scout of The Boy Scouts Association who was proclaimed^{[by whom?]} "Chief Scout of the World".^{[citation needed]}

• Chief Scout's Award