History of Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Timeline

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is the primary law enforcement agency of the U.S. Department of the Navy, investigating major criminal activities involving the Navy and Marine Corps. Its mandate extends to national security, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, cyber warfare, and protecting naval assets globally. Succeeding the Naval Investigative Service (NIS), NCIS comprises civilian and government investigators (1811 series special agents). These armed federal agents collaborate with other U.S. agencies and operate in over 41 countries and on U.S. Navy vessels. NCIS also employs analysts and experts skilled in forensics, surveillance, computer investigations, physical security, and polygraph examinations.

1916: Establishment of the First Branch Office

In the fall of 1916, in anticipation of the United States entry into World War I, the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) established its first branch office, a small undercover unit, in New York City. This unit was under the supervision of the ONI and relied heavily on reserve, active duty, and civilian operatives, many of whom served voluntarily and without pay.

1926: Initiatives to Organize Reserve Intelligence Officers

In early 1926, initiatives were undertaken to organize special groups of volunteer reserve intelligence officers. These officers were envisioned to obtain information on persons and activities that might threaten the naval establishment, as well as provide a cadre of trained personnel in the event of a national emergency.

1936: First Civilian Agent Employed

In 1936, the first civilian agent was employed in Washington, D.C. on a verbal basis and paid by personal check of the Director of Naval Intelligence, marking an important step in the development of a professional investigative capability within the Navy.

September 1937: Small Number of Civilian Special Agents

By September 1937, there were only 14 civilian special agents seeded throughout the naval districts, highlighting the nascent stage of the civilian investigative force.

June 1939: President Roosevelt Directs ONI to Handle Sabotage and Espionage Cases

In June 1939, President Roosevelt directed that the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) handle the investigation of Navy cases relating to sabotage, espionage, and subversive activities, increasing the ONI's responsibilities.

1940: Call-Up of Intelligence Reservists

By the fall of 1940, selective call-up of intelligence reservists for investigative and counterintelligence duties was undertaken on a broad scale, preparing the Navy's investigative arm for potential involvement in World War II.

1943: Peak of Investigations

In 1943, the "Naval Intelligence Service" reached a peak, conducting over 97,000 separate investigations during World War II.

1945: Secretary of the Navy Extends Investigative Jurisdiction

In 1945, the Secretary of the Navy extended investigative jurisdiction; however, no meaningful expansion of personnel occurred until the Korean conflict.

February 1966: Establishment of the Naval Investigative Service (NIS)

In February 1966, the Naval Investigative Service (NIS) was established, marking a significant refinement in mission and organization.

March 1967: Special Agent Afloat program initiated in Europe

In March 1967, the Special Agent Afloat (SAA) program was initiated in Europe.

April 1971: Special agent assigned to deployed carrier

In April 1971, a special agent was assigned to a deployed carrier for six months with the designation of SAA.

1972: Background Investigations Transferred to DIS

In 1972, background investigations were transferred from NIS to the newly formed Defense Investigative Service (DIS), allowing NIS to give more attention to criminal investigations and counter-intelligence.

1975: First Female Agent Stationed at NAS Miramar

In 1975, NIS had its first female agent, who was stationed at Naval Air Station Miramar, California, signifying a milestone in the organization's history.

1978: SAA personnel assigned to each operational aircraft carrier

By 1978, Special Agent Afloat (SAA) personnel were assigned to each operational aircraft carrier in the U. S. Navy for a one-year assignment.

October 1981: NIS Becomes a Second Echelon Command

In October 1981, NIS became a Second Echelon Command under the Chief of Naval Operations, altering its position within the Navy's organizational structure.

1982: NIS Special Agents Trained at FLETC

In 1982, two classes of NIS Special Agents were trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, in an assessment of the school's capability to train military investigators.

October 1983: Opening of the Anti-Terrorist Alert Center (ATAC)

Two months after the October 1983 bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, the agency opened the Anti-Terrorist Alert Center (ATAC), a 24-hour-a-day operational intelligence center that issued indications and warnings on terrorist activity to Navy and Marine Corps commands.

1984: NIS Special Agents Begin Training at FLETC

In 1984, NIS Special Agents began training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), along with other federal investigative agencies, except for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

August 1985: Flag-Rank Naval Officer Appointed as Commander

In August 1985, the Secretary of the Navy directed the appointment of a flag-rank naval officer to hold the position of Commander, NIS, reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy. Rear Admiral Cathal L. Flynn became the first admiral to lead NIS.

November 15, 1985: NIS Re-designated as NSIC

On November 15, 1985, NIS was re-designated as the Naval Security and Investigative Command (NSIC) and broadened its missions to include management of the DON Security Program, including naval information, physical, and personnel security.

1986: Trial begins with two Special Agents Afloat assigned to aircraft carriers

In 1986, a trial began where two Special Agents Afloat were assigned to aircraft carriers to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of having two agents assigned full-time while deployed, focusing on law enforcement/criminal investigations and foreign counterintelligence. The trial was later discontinued.

1986: Establishment of the DoN CAF

In 1986, the Department of the Navy Central Adjudication Facility (DoN CAF) was established and placed under the agency, as the agency was now once again responsible for adjudicating security clearances.

1987: Jonathan Jay Pollard Convicted of Spying

In 1987, Jonathan Jay Pollard, an NIS analyst, was convicted of spying for Israel after being caught by NIS and FBI. He received a life sentence.

1987: Conviction of Jonathan Pollard

In 1987, Jonathan Pollard was convicted of espionage after being caught by NIS and FBI while working at the Anti-Terrorist Alert Center (ATAC). He received a life sentence.

September 27, 1988: NSIC Changed to NISC

On September 27, 1988, NSIC was changed to the Naval Investigative Service Command (NISC), though the organization at large was still known as the Naval Investigative Service (NIS).

1991: Investigation of the Tailhook Scandal

In 1991, NIS was responsible for investigating the Tailhook scandal, which involved allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment by Naval and Marine Corps officers in Las Vegas, Nevada.

1992: Restructuring into NCIS

In 1992, after the Tailhook scandal and at the direction of Senator Sam Nunn, the Naval Investigative Service was restructured into the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) under civilian leadership.

1993: NCIS Mission Clarified and Civilian Leadership Appointed

In 1993, the NCIS mission was clarified, becoming a mostly civilian agency. Roy D. Nedrow, a former United States Secret Service (USSS) executive, was appointed as the first civilian director, and the name changed from Naval Investigative Service Command to Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

1995: Introduction of the Cold Case Homicide Unit

In 1995, NCIS introduced the Cold Case Homicide Unit, the first dedicated federal-level cold case homicide unit.

May 1997: David L. Brant Appointed Director of NCIS

In May 1997, David L. Brant was appointed director of NCIS by Secretary of the Navy John Howard Dalton.

1997: Fraud investigations resulting in recoveries and restitution

Since 1997, NCIS has conducted fraud investigations resulting in over half a billion dollars in recoveries and restitution to the U.S. government and the U.S. Navy.

1999: Memorandum of Understanding with Marine Corps CID

In 1999, NCIS and the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division (USMC CID) signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the integration of Marine Corps CID into NCIS.

2000: Authority to Execute Warrants and Make Arrests Granted

In 2000, Congress granted NCIS civilian special agents authority to execute warrants and make arrests, marking a significant expansion of their powers.

2002: ATAC becomes MTAC

In 2002 the Anti-Terrorist Alert Center (ATAC) became the Multiple Threat Alert Center (MTAC).

2002: Transformation of ATAC into MTAC

In 2002, a growing appreciation of the changing threat facing the Department of the Navy, culminating with the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole and the September 11 attacks, led NCIS to transform the Anti-Terrorist Alert Center into the Multiple Threat Alert Center (MTAC).

December 2005: Director Brant Retires

In December 2005, Director David L. Brant retired from NCIS.

2005: Base Realignment and Closure Commission authorizes Russell-Knox Building

In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission authorized the project to build the Russell-Knox Building (RKB) to co-locate the headquarters of various U.S. military criminal investigative agencies.

January 2006: Thomas A. Betro Appointed Director of NCIS

In January 2006, Thomas A. Betro was appointed director of NCIS by Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter.

September 13, 2009: Gregory A. Scovel Appointed Acting Director

On September 13, 2009, deputy director of Operations Gregory A. Scovel was appointed acting director of NCIS by Under Secretary of the Navy, Robert Work.

September 2009: Director Betro Retires

In September 2009, Director Thomas A. Betro retired from NCIS.

February 14, 2010: Mark D. Clookie Appointed Director of NCIS

On February 14, 2010, Mark D. Clookie became the fourth civilian director of NCIS, having been appointed to the position by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.

June 2010: Major Reorganization of NCIS

In June 2010, NCIS undertook a major reorganization that created a single deputy director position, combined the Combating Terrorism Directorate and the Counterintelligence Directorate, and created the Global Operations Directorate.

December 2011: NCIS Investigates Occupy Wall Street Links

In December 2011, NCIS was quoted in an FBI report as looking into links between Occupy Wall Street and "organized labor actions".

2011: NCIS headquarters moved to the Russell-Knox Building

In 2011, the NCIS headquarters was moved to the Russell-Knox Building from its previous location at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

December 2012: FBI releases redacted documents on Occupy Wall Street

In December 2012, the FBI released redacted documents concerning operations against Occupy Wall Street.

January 2013: Department of the Navy Central Adjudication Facility consolidated into DoD CAF

In January 2013, the Department of the Navy Central Adjudication Facility (DoN CAF) was consolidated with other Department of Defense (DoD) Central Adjudications Facilities into a single organization known as the DoD CAF, which became the sole authority for security clearance eligibility for non-Intelligence Agency DoD personnel.

October 7, 2013: Andrew L. Traver appointed fifth civilian director of NCIS

On October 7, 2013, Andrew L. Traver was appointed the fifth civilian director of NCIS by the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. He was responsible for an agency of 2,500 personnel and an annual budget of $460 million.

2014: NCIS forms Regional Enforcement Action Capabilities Training (REACT) team

In 2014, after the Washington Navy Yard shooting, NCIS formed the Regional Enforcement Action Capabilities Training (REACT) team to support investigations and high-risk enforcement operations.

June 4, 2019: Omar R. Lopez appointed sixth civilian director of NCIS

On June 4, 2019, Omar R. Lopez was appointed as the sixth civilian director of NCIS by the Secretary of the Navy, Richard V. Spencer, overseeing approximately 2,000 personnel across 191 locations.

2020: Regional Enforcement Action Capabilities Training team renamed

Around 2020, the Regional Enforcement Action Capabilities Training (REACT) team was renamed the Regional Enforcement Action Capabilities Team (REACT).

2021: Current standard issue pistols of NCIS Academy graduates

As of 2021, the current standard issue pistols of NCIS Academy graduates are the Glock 47 MOS, Glock 19 MOS, and the Glock 26 in 9mm. Previously, NCIS issued both the Sig Sauer P229/P239 DA/SA, DAK (Double Action Kellerman) trigger system. and SIG Sauer M11 (P228) in 9×19mm.