If the SS didn't exist? After Father died, they said other heads would fight among each other that could last for a long time. It seems like it's likely between Allie and Ayo since they're both very opinionated and hold some sway over others. Father trusts Allie the most, so I think she would be the most likely candidate.

If SS didn't exist, Father wouldn't exist!

Well, they're named the sole survivor, if they died, then the "sole survivor" wouldn't exist, but Father's parents would still exist.

I'd say Doctor Li, she is a bright scientist who knows what life on the surface is like, she'd be a great leader.

Dr. Allie Filmore or Dr. Li seem the most likely candidates.

But probably Dr. Filmore. She was basically Father's right-hand lady. And would be the most likely candidate to be named successor and thus the new Director.

Honestly, I think Dr. Li would probably refuse the position. She's never appeared to like leadership roles, and seems content to just go about her work.

Father doesn't like Dr. Ayo, and he's also not particularly popular with everyone else.

Dr. Holdren is not a bad candidate, but there's also nothing that's particularly inspiring about him. But by all accounts he seems to be a solid Division Head.

I don't think they would trust Dr. Li since she used to live on the surface, she worked with the Brotherhood of Steel, and helped build the Liberty Prime. There is a question of her loyalty, and rightfully so, considering what happened if you helped the BoS.

Yea that's actually a good point

Though surprisingly nobody really mentions questioning her loyalty out loud. Hell, even Dr. Ayo seems to respect her.

But then again, it's probably one of those 'unspoken' things. Either way, I don't think she really wants to be Director anyway. Even if it was offered to her, I get the feeling she'd refuse.

Even if she wants to continue to research. Don't you think that being a director would allow her to allocate more funding to her division? Considering how the heads often bicker about how the funds being distributed and how much power they have over the other ones?

In these high intelligent settings, even if you hate or distrust someone, you never let your intentions be known. That's not a good thing for your career. Dr. Ayo is an example of what happened when you're unpopular. Even if you are capable, it's not very likely you can rise to the top if everyone dislikes you.

If she's hogging all the funds to advanced sciences, she probably wouldn't really make a good director though.

I just get the sense that she's a bit despondent and slightly depressed in Fallout 4. Possibly because of what happened with James in the CW, and possibly because she's not sure about what happened with the FEV lab incident. Its not really something that's said aloud in-game, I just get the sense she's disinterested in leadership. And would prefer to be left alone.

I think Allie would have been named Father's successor without the SS coming along. Father seems to trust her the most, and he basically tells the SS she's someone to rely on on his deathbed. That she's always been loyal to him and The Institute.

Although come to think of it, Holdren seems to be the only one who knows about Father's terminal cancer. Though that may just be because he's Bioscience head (and thus de-facto head of medicine) and not because Father necessarily trusts him.