Strategic Vision

NCIS evolved out of the Department of the Navy's (DON's) need for investigative autonomy into a full-fledged federal law enforcement agency with both law enforcement and counterintelligence responsibilities.  NCIS investigative standards and evidence collection methods support prosecution in domestic and international criminal courts. 

NCIS conducts extensive liaison and engagement activities with U.S. and foreign law enforcement organizations.  Partnerships are critical to building capabilities and capacity and collaborating on key maritime security and governance issues.   

• Since 2003, NCIS has conducted more than 1,000 deployments of civilian agents and analysts to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and other locations in direct support of combat and counterterrorism operations. Throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East, NCIS personnel partner with law enforcement and security agencies to strengthen relationships.
• NCIS agents have played a key role in the investigation and successful prosecution of Somali pirates. 
• NCIS was the first element within the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a presence at the NATO Cyber Center of Excellence in Estonia. Increased engagement and training activities with foreign counterpart police and coast guard forces have improved the security of U.S. naval forces in foreign ports and other operational venues.
• NCIS provides naval forces with critical regional and local expertise and information through longstanding presence in overseas locations.

NCIS stands ready to apply and adapt its unique capabilities to meet the emerging requirements of the Navy and Marine Corps in an uncertain world.

Today's NCIS

NCIS evolved out of the Department of the Navy's (DON's) need for investigative autonomy into a full-fledged federal law enforcement agency with both law enforcement and counterintelligence responsibilities.  NCIS investigative standards and evidence collection methods support prosecution in domestic and international criminal courts. 

NCIS conducts extensive liaison and engagement activities with U.S. and foreign law enforcement organizations.  Partnerships are critical to building capabilities and capacity and collaborating on key maritime security and governance issues.   

• Since 2003, NCIS has conducted more than 1,000 deployments of civilian agents and analysts to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and other locations in direct support of combat and counterterrorism operations. Throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East, NCIS personnel partner with law enforcement and security agencies to strengthen relationships.
• NCIS agents have played a key role in the investigation and successful prosecution of Somali pirates. 
• NCIS was the first element within the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a presence at the NATO Cyber Center of Excellence in Estonia. Increased engagement and training activities with foreign counterpart police and coast guard forces have improved the security of U.S. naval forces in foreign ports and other operational venues.
• NCIS provides naval forces with critical regional and local expertise and information through longstanding presence in overseas locations.

NCIS stands ready to apply and adapt its unique capabilities to meet the emerging requirements of the Navy and Marine Corps in an uncertain world.

History of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service

WWI Era	1930's Reserve	WWII Era	1966-1982	Vietnam	1982-1992	Reserve Agent	1992-Present

Though staffed almost entirely by civilian personnel, NCIS' history is closely connected to the Navy and Marine Corps it serves. 

NAME EVOLUTION

As the mission of NCIS has changed, so has its name. The history of NCIS can be traced to the establishment of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). Subsequently, the name changed to the Naval Intelligence Investigative Service (NIIS), the Naval Secret Service (NSS), back to ONI, then the Naval Investigative Service (NIS), the Naval Security and Investigative Command (NSIC), the Naval Investigative Service Command (NISCOM), and finally, in 1992, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

1882 - ORIGIN

The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) was established when Secretary of the Navy William H. Hunt signed Navy Department General Order 292 in 1882. ONI was initially tasked with collecting information on the characteristics and weaponry of foreign vessels, charting foreign passages, rivers, or other bodies of water, and touring overseas fortifications, industrial plants, and shipyards.

1915 - ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE MISSION

In anticipation of the United States' entry into World War I, ONI's responsibilities expanded to include espionage, sabotage, and all manner of information on the Navy's potential adversaries. This mission expansion is credited to Marine Major John Henry Russell, who went on to become the 16^th Commandant of the Marine Corps.  He is credited with making investigations part of the NCIS mission.

1916 - FIRST BRANCH OFFICEIn fall of 1916 the first Branch Office (a small undercover unit) was established in New York City under the supervision of ONI. Heavy reliance was placed on both reservists on active duty and civilian operatives, many of the latter serving voluntarily and without pay.  The office served as a model for others developed during World War I, and accounted for some impressive successes in the field of counterespionage.
1919 - NAVAL SECRET SERVICEFollowing WWI, responsibilities for criminal investigations were placed under naval aides for information, who were assigned to the staffs of each of the 15 naval district commandants, and later placed under the district aide.  The counterintelligence units under the aides were collectively designated as the Naval Secret Service with the first investigators known as secret service agents. Eventually, all operatives were known as Special Agents of the Office of Naval Intelligence.
1927 - VOLUNTEER RESERVESIn 1927 special groups of volunteer reserve intelligence officers were organized. The group was assigned to obtain information on persons and activities that might constitute a threat to the naval establishment. They also provided a cadre of trained personnel in the event of a national emergency.
1930 - FIRST CIVILIAN HIREBy early 1930’s the development of an independent professional investigative capability within the Navy was underway. The first civilian agent was employed in 1936 on a verbal basis and paid by personal check of the Director of Naval Intelligence. By 1937, fourteen civilian agents were brought on board on personal service contracts by the District Intelligence Officers (DIOs). This hiring practice continued until 1969 when agents were converted to the Excepted Civil Service. These agents received no training, although they were used for every type of inquiry.  They were deployed nationwide. Their resourcefulness and effectiveness laid the foundation for the modern professional agent corps.
1935 - FIRST ONI MANUAL FOR INVESTIGATIONSIn 1935 LTJG Cecil H. Coggins set the stage for a new generation of counterintelligence experts.  While working for the ONI, he uncovered an Axis spy ring which confirmed an intelligence threat to the United States. LT Coggins fought as a guerilla fighter with the “Rice Paddy Navy” in China during WW II and wrote the first ONI manual for investigations. He was later promoted to rear admiral.
1939 - INVESTIGATION MISSIONIn June 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed that ONI handle investigation of Navy cases relating to sabotage, espionage and subversive activities that pose any kind of threat to the Navy.  ONI became a predominately civilian organization after WW II when tasked to conduct criminal investigations, counterintelligence and security background investigations.
1940 - NAVAL INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICEBy the fall of 1940, selective call-up of Intelligence reservists for investigative and counterintelligence duties was undertaken on a broad scale.  Following entry into World War II, the Navy’s investigative arm was manned almost exclusively by reserve officers.  By 1943, more than 97,000 separate investigations were prosecuted by what became known as the “Naval Intelligence Investigative Service” (NIIS).  The investigative corps gained respect and a permanent place in the fabric of naval security.
1945 - CENTRALIZATIONAs the war concluded it was recognized that there was a need to maintain a base of professionalism, and provision was made to retain a small group of civilian agents. Wartime experience had demonstrated two points: (1) More specific investigative authority was needed; and (2) A truly effective organization demanded centralized control as well as direction.
1945 - SECURITY INVESTIGATIONSIn 1945 Secretary of the Navy James Vincent Forrestal extended ONI’s charter to major criminal and security investigations, in addition to sabotage and espionage.
1950 - INVESTIGATION BACKLOGA major buildup of civilian special agents began with the Korean War in 1950 when the agent corps numbered only 156. This growth was also spurred by the increasing requests for background investigations.  Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s approximately 500 agents conducted criminal investigations, counterintelligence and background investigations for the Navy.  However, by 1964 pending cases had grown to 35,000 which translated to a six and one-half month backlog for each agent.
1964 - COMMANDER DESIGNATIONAs the result of a Department of Defense study in 1964, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara directed that the commander of the Navy Investigative organization be the commander in fact as well as in name, having no primary responsibility other than managing the investigative organization. 
1966 - NAVAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICEIn February 1966 the name Naval Investigative Service (NIS) was adopted to distinguish the organization from the rest of ONI.  Under the Director of Naval Intelligence, the new command consisted of only three functional organizations: the Director NIS and his headquarters staff; Naval Investigative Service Offices, each headed by a military commanding officer, and NIS Resident Agencies which were the basic operating components. 
1968 - VIETNAM PRESENCEIn 1968 NIS established an office in Danang, Vietnam.
1969 - EXCEPTED CIVIL SERVICESince 1969, the mission focus has been criminal investigative and counterintelligence support to the Department of the Navy. Also in 1969, NIS special agents became Excepted Civil Service and were no longer contract employees.
1970 - AGENT AFLOATThe early 1970s also marked the beginning of the Deployment Afloat program when an NIS special agent was stationed on the USS Intrepid for six months. This program (today called the NCIS Special Agent Afloat program) provided an NIS presence on all anti-aircraft carriers, deployed or in port.
1972 - DEFENSE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICEIn 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 counterintelligence.  Nearly half of NIS special agents were transferred to DIS.
1975 - DIVERSITYIn 1975 the first female agent was stationed at Naval Air Station Miramar, California.
1981 - FIRST FLAG OFFICER FOR NISIn October 1981, NIS was upgraded to Echelon II status, with control of its own budget. Echelon II commands report directly to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).  In 1985, Rear Admiral Cathal L. (“Irish”) Flynn (the first active duty SEAL to attain flag rank), was assigned as the first flag officer to command NIS.
1983 - ANTITERRORIST ALERT CENTERNIS opened the Antiterrorist Alert Center (ATAC) in response to the October 1983 bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut. ATAC, a 24-hour-a-day operational intelligence center, was organized to issue indications and warnings on terrorist activity to Navy and Marine Corps commands. It was the first coordinated effort to fuse intelligence and law enforcement data with enhanced technologies.
1984 - TRAININGIn 1984, special agents began training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Georgia—the training facility for nearly 90 federal investigative agencies.
1985 - NAVAL SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE COMMANDIn late 1985, NIS became the Naval Security and Investigative Command (NSIC).  Soon after, the special agent corps increased to more than 1,000 personnel.
1986 - DON CAFNSIC assumed responsibility for managing the Navy's Law Enforcement and Physical Security Program and the Navy's Information and Personnel Security Program.  In 1986, the Department of the Navy Central Adjudication Facility (DON CAF) was established under NSIC, corresponding with the organization's new responsibility of adjudicating security clearances. DON CAF renders approximately 200,000 eligibility determinations annually for the Navy, Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and for all civilians working within the DON.  In early 1994, responsibilities were expanded to include adjudicating eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information.
1987 - SECURITY PROGRAMSNSIC also assumed control of the Navy’s Master-at-Arms program and the Military Working Dog Program. 
1988 - NAME CHANGE TO NISCOMIn September 1988, RADM John E. Gordon, the agency’s second flag rank commander, directed that NSIC be re-designated as the Naval Investigative Service Command (NISCOM).  RADM Gordon, a member of the Navy Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) was the first of three JAG officers to command the organization.
1992 - FIRST CIVILIAN DIRECTORIn December 1992, the Secretary of the Navy Sean O’Keefe, abolished the position of the flag rank officer as Commander of NISC, and established a civilian Director, a Senior Executive Service (SES) position.  The military leadership was replaced by the first civilian law enforcement director, Special Agent Roy D. Nedrow, formerly of the U.S. Secret Service.  NCIS was aligned as an Echelon II Command under the Secretary of the Navy (another civilian), reporting via the General Counsel.  Secretary of the Navy O’Keefe also mandated the name change to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to emphasize its criminal investigative mission.
1995 - COLD CASE DIVISIONIn September 1995, NCIS established the Cold Case Homicide Unit. NCIS was the first federal law enforcement agency to fully dedicate a department to cold case investigations, and as of July 2010, had resolved 61 homicides.
1996 - CIVILIAN REORGANIZATIONDirector Roy D. Nedrow oversaw the restructuring of NCIS into a Federal law enforcement agency with 14 field offices controlling field operations in 140 locations worldwide.  He disestablished all regional offices; designating the sixteen major offices for worldwide operational control of all field activities reporting to NCIS headquarters; reduced the size of the agency by sixteen percent pursuant to Congressional mandates; and emphasized the consistent pursuit of competent, professional, and independent felony criminal investigations. As of early 1996, NCIS had approximately 1,500 employees including 900 special agents in a worldwide network of 165 field offices, resident agencies and ships at sea.
1997 - DIRECTOR BRANTIn May 1997, NCIS Special Agent David L. Brant was appointed Director of NCIS by Secretary of the Navy John Dalton.  Director Brant retired in December 2005. 
1999 - MARINE CORPS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONIn 1999 NCIS and the Marine Corps Criminal Investigative Division (CID) signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the integration of a number of Marine Corps CID agents into NCIS to enhance interoperability.
2000 - ARREST AUTHORITYIn November 2000, the United States Congress passed legislation authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to grant NCIS civilian special agents authority to execute federal warrants and make arrests of civilians.
2000 - CHANGING THREAT ENVIRONMENTA changing threat environment faced the Department of the Navy in the 21st century with the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, resulting in the deaths of seventeen US Navy sailors. NCIS and FBI agents immediately began an investigation which lasted for several months; their efforts resulted in the indictment and conviction of several terrorists.
2001 - MULTIPLE THREAT ALERT CENTER
The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, DC on September 11, 2001 led NCIS to transform the Antiterrorist Alert Center (ATAC) into the Multiple Threat Alert Center (MTAC) in 2002.
2002 - INFORMATION SHARING: LInX INITIATIVEIn 2002, NCIS established the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) in the Pacific Northwest and Hampton Roads, Virginia. LInX is an information sharing initiative that provides participating law enforcement personnel with the ability to electronically search and review the law enforcement records of all other participating agencies in a particular region. Other regions, including Hawaii, New Mexico, South Texas, Southeast Georgia/Northeast Florida, the National Capital Region of Washington, DC, and Southern California have since been added.
2003 - DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQIn September 2003, NCIS deployed its first agents to Iraq to conduct protective service operations and provide counterterrorism, counterintelligence and criminal investigative support.
2003 - SECURITY TRAINING ASSISTANCE AND ASSESSMENT TEAMS (STAAT)On February 11, the Director, NCIS signed Executive Decision 03-0038, which merged NCIS Law Enforcement Physical Security Assistance Teams (LEPS) and the NCIS Mobile Training Teams (MTT) to establish STAAT teams to conduct antiterrorism activities, law enforcement and security training.
2005 - NCIS CHARTEROn December 28, 2005, the Secretary of the Navy issued SECNAVINST 5430.107, revising the NCIS charter and updating the responsibilities, mission and functions of NCIS and its relationships with other DON and law enforcement organizations and activities.
2006 - NCIS DIRECTOR BETROIn January 2006, NCIS Special Agent Thomas A. Betro was appointed the third civilian Director of NCIS by Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter. Director Betro retired in September 2009.
2009 - DEFENSE LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA EXCHANGENCIS collaborated with other Department of Defense federal law enforcement agencies to launch the Defense Law Enforcement Data Exchange (DDEX).  Like LInX, the DDEX system provides DoD special agents and analysts in all of the services access to a multitude of law enforcement data in an effort to reduce crime, prevent terrorism, and protect DoD assets.  
2010 - NCIS DIRECTOR CLOOKIEIn February 2010, NCIS Special Agent Mark Clookie was appointed the fourth civilian Director of NCIS by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. 

Leroy Jethro Gibbs has rules that he enforces with everyone on his team, in 3x05 "Switch" he told Ziva that there are approximately fifty rules. However, only a few rules have been revealed. Here are the rules that have been revealed so far:

    
Rule #1: Never let suspects stay together. (Franks) 1x01 'Yankee White'

Rule #1: Never screw over your partner. 4x14 'Blowback' 

Rule #2: Always wear gloves at a crime scene.
(Franks) 1x01 'Yankee White'

Rule #3: Don't believe what you're told. Double check.
(Franks) 1x01 'Yankee White'

Rule #3: Never be unreachable. 3x13 'Deception'

Rule #4: The best way to keep a secret? Keep it to yourself.
Second best? Tell one other person - if you must.
There is no third best. 4x11 'Blowback'

Rule #6: Never apologize — Its a sign of weakness. A rule used more often than the others, but finally given a number in 7x12 'Flesh and Blood' during a great Gibbs/DiNozzo moment. The first person to use that phrase was John Wayne in, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." "Never apologize, mister, it. It's a sign of weakness." — In the episode 3x23 'Hiatus Part-1' DiNozzo explains to NCIS Director, Jenny Shepard, that Gibbs took this one from "The Duke himself."
Rule #7: Always be specific when you lie.
1x23 'Reveille'

Rule #8: Never take anything for granted.
3x10 'Probie'

Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife.
1x13 'One Shot, One Kill' & 1x20 'Missing'

Rule #10: Never get personally involved on a case. (Said by Tony, agreed on by Gibbs)7x21 'Obsession'

Rule #11: When the job is done, walk away.
6x24 'Semper Fidelis'

Rule #12: Never date a coworker. 1x15 'Enigma'

Rule #13: Never, ever involve a lawyer. 6x07 'Collateral Damage' & 7x24 'Rule Fifty-One'

Rule #15: Always work as a team. 5x05 'Leap of Faith'

Rule #18: It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission. 3x04 'Silver War'


Rule #22: Never, ever bother Gibbs in interrogation.
4x10 'Smoked'
 
Rule #23: Never mess with a Marine's coffee if you want to live.
2x09 'Forced Entry'

Rule #27: Two ways to follow: — First way they never notice you, — second way they only notice you. 7x15 'Jack Knife' &
7x24 'Rule Fifty-One'

Rule #38: Your case, your lead. 6x16 'Bounce'

Rule #39: There is no such thing as coincidence.
7x21 'Obsession'
"The 40's are for Emergency Use Only!"
7x24 'Rule Fifty-One' (Mentioned by Abby)

Rule #40: If it seems someone is out to get you, they are.
(Said by Abby, agreed on by Gibbs) 7x22 'Borderland'
& 7x24 'Rule Fifty-One'

Rule #44: First things first. Hide the women and children. 7x23 'Patriot Down'

Rule #45: *PENDING* Gibbs Said, "Left a mess I've got to clean up." 7x24 'Rule Fifty-One' (See Below)

Rule #51: Sometimes — You're Wrong! 7x24 'Rule Fifty-One'
 

And remember. . .

"A slap to the face
is an insult — to the
back of the head
is a wake-up call."

NOTES:

In 3x05 'Switch' we learn there are actually about 50 Rules. In 3x15 'Deception' the writers seem to have forgotten that they already used Rule #3. A new Rule #1 is given in episode 4x11 'Blowback' creating another duplicate. Some have speculated that the original Rules #1 and #3 are actually 'Crime Scene Rules' and not Gibbs' Rules. There are also theories that because the rules are not written down, the numbers may be fluid. Regardless, we now have two versions of Rule #1 and Rule #3. However, with the Season 7 Finale 3x15 'Deception', we have some clarification that Gibbs' Rule #3 is actually "Never be unreachable." At the end of the episode, Rule #3 is visible on a scrap of paper inside the box. That makes sense since the Gibbs' Rule #3 wasn't mentioned until season 3 when the writers had put at least a little thought into Gibbs having a set of rules. Using that theory, it also makes sense that Gibbs Rule #1 is "Never screw over your partner," mentioned the first time in season 4.

Here is NCIS Executive Producer Shane Brennan’s long-awaited and surprising explanation:
“Gibbs lives his life by a set of rules that took root from the first day he met Shannon. Over time, Gibbs added to the rules. When he joined NIS, Mike Franks told him he didn't need dozens of different rules to be an agent... just three 'golden rules.' And this is why we have double ups on rules #1 and #3. Three of them are Gibbs' rules; three of them are Mike Franks’ rules. We are still to reveal the double-up on rule #2. And it's up to the fans to guess which of the rules were Mike Franks’ three golden rules and which were Gibbs'.”

One of Gibbs' Rules that has not been strictly followed is Rule #6, "Never apologize. It's a sign of weakness." Another is Rule #3, "Never be unreachable." Gibbs often leaves his cell phone behind when he does not want to be reached. Recently we learned that Gibbs' Rule #6 is "Never apologize — It's a sign of weakness." Gibbs has made at least six exceptions to Rule #6:
    1. His apology to Kate for being late to her funeral.
    2. His apology to McGee for not backing him up when he was interrogated.
        (and arrested) by the DC Metro Police.
    3. His apology to Franks because of his amnesia.
    4. His apology to Ducky following his return from Mexico.
    5. His apology to Joann for not being able to protect Shannon and Kelly.
    6. His apology to Abby in the Season 7 Finale, Rule Fifty-One.

UPDATES:

Rule #44, Rule #45 & Rule #51: Gibbs mentioned Rule #44 In episode 7x23 'Patriot Down' when sending a warning to Mike Franks, explained in the Season Finale as, "First things first. Hide the women and children." Rule #51, "Sometimes — You're wrong," was given during the Season 7 NCIS Finale (7x24) titled 'Rule Fifty-One' and a Rule #45 was mentioned in this same episode, without an explanation.

David McCallum

David Keith McCallum, Jr. (born 19 September 1933) is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as inter dimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the series NCIS.

Early life and career

McCallum was born in Glasgow, the second of two sons of Dorothy Dorman, a cellist, and orchestral leader (principal first violinist) David McCallum, Sr. When he was ten, his family moved to London. He won a scholarship to University College School, a boys' independent school in Hampstead, London. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became Assistant Stage Manager of the Glyndebourne Opera Company in 1951. He began his career as a bit-part actor in British films of the late 1950s, and his first acting role was in Whom the Gods Love, Die Young playing a doomed royal. A James Dean-themed photograph of McCallum caught the attention of the Rank Organisation, who signed him in 1957.
Early roles included a juvenile delinquent in Violent Playground (1957), an outlaw in Robbery Under Arms (1957) and as junior RMS Titanic radio operator Harold Bride in A Night to Remember (1958). His first American film was Freud the Secret Passion (1962), directed by John Huston, which was shortly followed by a role in Peter Ustinov S's Billy Budd. McCallum played Lt. Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt "Dispersal" in The Great Escape which was released in 1963. He took the role of Judas Iscariot in 1965's The Greatest Story Ever Told. Notable pre-U.N.C.L.E. television roles included parts in The Outer Limits and Perry Mason.

NCIS

NCIS, formerly known as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural drama television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
The concept and characters were initially introduced in a two-part episode of the CBS series JAG (JAG episodes 8.20 and 8.21). The show, a spin-off from JAG, premiered on September 23, 2003 on CBS and, to date, has aired seven full seasons and has gone into syndicated reruns on USA Network, Sleuth and Ion Television. Donald Bellisario, who created JAG as well as the well-known series Magnum, P.I. and Quantum Leap, is co-creator and executive producer of NCIS.
NCIS was originally referred to as Navy NCIS during Season 1; however, "Navy" was later dropped from the title as it was redundant. NCIS returned for a seventh season on September 22, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EDT and was followed by its spin-off series NCIS: Los Angeles starring Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J. On May 19, 2010, CBS renewed NCIS for an eighth season,which began airing on September 21, 2010.

Premise

NCIS follows a fictional team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service Major Case Response Team (MCRT) special agents headquartered at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. It is described by the actors and producers (on special features on DVD releases in the United States) as being distinguished by its comic elements, ensemble acting and character-driven plots.
NCIS is the primary law enforcement and counter-intelligence arm of the United States Department of the Navy, which includes the United States Marine Corps. NCIS investigates all major criminal offenses (felonies)—crimes punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice by confinement of more than one year—within the Department of the Navy. The MCRT is frequently assigned to high profile cases such as the death of the U.S. president's military aide, a bomb situation on a U.S. Navy warship, the death of a celebrity on a reality show set on a USMC base, terrorist threats, and kidnappings.
The MCRT is led by Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). Gibbs’s team is composed of Special Agent and Senior Field Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Special Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) and Probationary Special Agent (formerly Mossad liaison officer) Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), who replaced Caitlin "Kate" Todd (Sasha Alexander) when she was shot by Ari Haswari (Rudolf Martin) at the end of season two. Ari was then killed by his half-sister Ziva at the beginning of season three. The team is assisted in their investigations by Chief Medical Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum), Medical Assistant Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), who replaced Gerald Jackson (Pancho Demmings), and Forensic Specialist Abigail "Abby" Sciuto (Pauley Perrette).
It has been revealed through flashbacks that the 'original' head of the MCRT was Special Agent Mike Franks, who led the unit when it was part of the Naval Investigative Service (NIS), the predecessor agency of the NCIS. He recruited Gibbs shortly after Gibbs' retirement from the Marine Corps, eventually retiring himself some years later. After Franks' departure, Gibbs recruited DiNozzo from the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Section. The two were briefly joined by Vivian Blackadder, whom Gibbs recruited from the FBI. In the second part of the NCIS pilot, Blackadder allowed her emotions to nearly derail an anti-terror operation in Spain. Gibbs is noticeably disappointed, Blackadder is not present in the series' first regular episode. McGee first appears as a Field Agent assigned to the Norfolk Field Office. He uses his computer skills to aid the MCRT in subsequent investigations through the rest of the first season, until he is officially promoted with his own desk at the Navy Yard in the beginning of the second season.
NCIS is currently led by Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll). The first director seen in the series, Thomas Morrow (Alan Dale), left after being promoted to Deputy Director of DHS. Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) was appointed director after Morrow; she was killed in a shootout at the end of the fifth season, thus making Vance the director of the whole organization.

Main article: List of NCIS characters

Character	Portrayed by	Role	Main cast seasons	Recurring cast seasons	Short Biography
Leroy Jethro Gibbs	Mark Harmon	NCIS Special Agent in Charge	1–Present	N/A	Gibbs is a Special Agent In Charge of the Major Case Response Team and former Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps until 1991 when his first wife Shannon and daughter Kelly were killed while in the protection of NIS. After Gibbs had taken revenge on the drug dealer who killed his wife and daughter, he came back to Mike Franks and asked for a job.
Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo	Michael Weatherly	NCIS Senior Field Agent	1–Present	N/A	DiNozzo is a Special Agent and Senior Field Agent of the Major Case Response Team and former Peoria, Philadelphia, and Baltimore police officer before joining NCIS in 2001. Gibbs considers DiNozzo to be a younger version of himself, using his "gut" to solve cases, in the episode "Collateral Damage"
Ziva David	Cote de Pablo	NCIS Probationary Field Agent	3–Present	3	David is a Special Agent and Probationary Field Agent of Major Case Response Team since season seven. For the four years previous was on the same team as Mossad Liaison Officer. Before joining NCIS David was in the Israeli Army for two years.
Abigail "Abby" Sciuto	Pauley Perrette	Forensics Specialist	1–Present	N/A	Sciuto is a forensics specialist assigned to the NCIS Major Case Response Team. She has an affinity for Gothic fashion and the fictional brand "Caf-Pow" caffeinated beverages.
Timothy McGee	Sean Murray	NCIS Junior Field Agent	2–Present	1	McGee is a Special Agent and Junior Field Agent of the Major Case Response Team. He has a degree in Computer Forensics from MIT and, along with Abby Sciuto, acts as the team's technology specialist.
Leon Vance	Rocky Carroll	NCIS Director	6–Present	5	Vance, who was formerly the NCIS Deputy Director and right hand to Jenny Shepard became the Director of NCIS following her death at the end of the fifth season.
Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard	David McCallum	NCIS Chief Medical Examiner	1–Present	N/A	Mallard is the Chief Medical Examiner assigned to NCIS, he spent some time as a Medical Examiner in Vietnam, Bosnia and Afghanistan before working for NCIS. He was close friends with Jenny Shepard and is best friends with Gibbs.
Jenny Shepard	Lauren Holly	NCIS Director	3–5	3	Shepard was the second director of NCIS, and formerly worked under Gibbs in Europe and was his lover. She was killed in "Judgement Day Part 1" after a former NCIS target, Natasha, hired assassins to kill her. Shepard managed to kill all of the assassins with the help of Mike Franks, but died from her wounds.
Caitlin "Kate" Todd	Sasha Alexander	NCIS Field Agent	1–2	3	Todd worked as a Secret Service Agent until the beginning of Season 1, and was tasked with presidential protection detail. She resigned from the Secret Service and was offered a job at NCIS by Gibbs. She was killed by double agent Ari Haswari at the end of season 2. Her death hit the NCIS team hard, with Gibbs leaving flowers on the roof where she was shot, and, following her death, not letting anybody touch her desk or locker at NCIS.
Jimmy Palmer	Brian Dietzen	Assistant Medical Examiner to Dr. Donald Mallard	N/A	1–Present	Palmer is the assistant Medical Examiner to Dr. Mallard since late season one. Although normally credited in a recurring role, Dietzen has been credited as "Also starring" since Season 6.
Tobias Fornell	Joe Spano	Senior FBI Agent	N/A	1–Present	Fornell is a senior FBI Special Agent. He and Gibbs share an ex-wife, who wiped out their bank accounts in turn when she left. They have a spiky camaraderie.
Mike Franks	Muse Watson	Retired NIS Special Agent in Charge	N/A	3–Present	Franks is a retired Special Agent with NIS and mentor to Gibbs. He is also close friends with DiNozzo and was close friends with Jenny Shepard up until her death.
Trent Kort	David Dayan Fisher	CIA Field Operative	N/A	4–Present	Kort is an undercover CIA Special Agent who always seems to have his own devious goals to pursue. Gibbs regards him as potentially very dangerous and does not trust him.
M. Allison Hart	Rena Sofer	Attorney	N/A	7–Present	Hart is an Attorney at law, and potential love interest for Gibbs.
Damon Werth	Paul Telfer	Marine Corporal	N/A	5, 7	Marine Corporal Damon Werth appeared in one episode of season 5 and returned as a recurring character in season 7 for two episodes. Potential love interest for Ziva.
Thomas Morrow	Alan Dale	NCIS Director	N/A	1–3	Morrow was the first Director of NCIS seen in the series. He resigned as Director of NCIS in "Kill Ari Part 1" after being offered a job at the Department of Homeland Security, and was succeeded by Jenny Shepard.
Gerald Jackson	Pancho Demmings	Assistant Medical Examiner to Dr. Donald Mallard	N/A	1, 3	Jackson was the Assistant Medical Examiner to Dr. Mallard during the first season until he was shot by Ari Haswari in "Bête Noire". He was Dr. Mallard's assistant two years prior to this and went into rehab after the incident.
Paula Cassidy	Jessica Steen	NCIS Special Agent in Charge	N/A	1–4	Cassidy was a Special Agent with NCIS and was temporarily assigned to Gibbs' team following the death of Kate Todd, before getting her own team based in the Pentagon. She was killed by a suicide bomber in "Grace Period".
Michelle Lee	Liza Lapira	NCIS Special Agent	N/A	4–6	Lee was a Special Agent with NCIS who was assigned to Special Agent DiNozzo's team at the start of Season 4, she was reassigned back to the Legal Department after Gibbs returned, and recurred during the fourth season, she then returned to Gibbs' team at the end of Season 5 in "Judgment Day Part 2" after being suspected as a mole, and was shot by Gibbs in "Dagger" (to hit her captor behind her) after it was revealed that her sister was captured and used to blackmail her.
Hollis Mann	Susanna Thompson	Army CID Investigator	N/A	4–5	Mann was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army assigned to the CID. She later retired, but remained a love interest of Gibbs throughout seasons 4–5.
Jeanne Benoit	Scottie Thompson	Doctor	N/A	4–5	Jeanne was a Doctor at Monroe University Hospital and daughter of arms dealer René Benoit (also known as La Grenouille). She was used as part of an undercover operation and was the love interest of Special Agent DiNozzo in seasons 4–5; her last appearance was in "Internal Affairs".

Brian Dietzen

Hailing from Colorado, Brian Dietzen made his big-screen debut alongside Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini in From Justin to Kelly (2003) . He graduated with a BFA, majoring in acting, the University of Colorado at Boulder. He performed with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival for two years and spent five years performing contemporary theatrical works like "Equus" and "Same Time, Next Year" honoring him with the UROP grant for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative Arts.

Recently, Brian moved to L.A. where he was cast in the WB series "My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star" (2002) as a regular. Also, in L.A., he starred with Steve Rudnick in a two-man theatre production of "The Oldest Man in Show Biz" at the Hudson Stage, winning critical acclaim.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous & MO840

Trivia

Is a talented singer and dancer

Where Are They Now

(January 2009) Currently working on "NCIS" on CBS as "Jimmy Palmer" the M.E.'s assistant.

Sean Murrayt

Spouse

Carrie James

(26 November 2005 - present) 2 children

Trivia

He attended Bonita Vista Junior High (now Bonita Vista Middle) in Chula Vista, California.
He is a huge fan of David Lynch's work.
He listens to electronic music. Sean has cited Aphex Twin and Drexciya as two of his favorite artists.
Stepbrother of Troian Avery Bellisario (who plays his sister on "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" (2003) ), Michael Bellisario, Julie B. Watson and David Bellisario.
Daughter Caitlyn Melissa Murray (b. May 3, 2007).
Brother of Chad W. Murray who was the victim on NCIS 1x04 The Immortals and who also happens to work as post-production coordinator on NCIS.
In a commentary recording for a 4th season episode of "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" (2003), Sean noted that his father had been the executive officer on board the aircraft carrier, Enterprise.
Son of Vivienne Bellisario, stepson of Donald P. Bellisario.
Son River James Murray was born on April 22, 2010 in Los Angeles.

Where Are They Now

(December 2004) Has a recurring role on his stepfather Donald P. Bellisario 's CBS Series _"NCIS" (2003)_ as Special Agent Timothy McGee
(December 2004) Resides in Sherman Oaks, California
(January 2010) Still co-starring in his stepfather Donald P. Bellisario 's CBS Series _"NCIS" (2003)_

Cote De Pablo or María José de Pablo Fernández

Cote de Pablo was born in Santiago, Chile, but was raised in Miami. Cote attended Arvida Middle School in Miami, Florida, and, later in life, attended Carnegie Mellon University. She graduated in 2000 after studying music theater. Whilst at Carnegie Mellon, Cote appeared in several theater productions, including "Indiscretions", "The Fantasticks", "The House of Bernarda Alba", "And The World Goes 'Round", "A Little Night Music" and "Cloud Techtonics".

Her first television role was hosting the 1994 show "Control" (1994), alongside _"Entertainment Tonight" (1981)_ host Carlos Ponce.

In 2001, Cote appeared on the New York City Public Theater stage in the Shakespeare play, "Measure for Measure", then moved onto roles on the small screen such as "All My Children" (1970). Cote had a small role on the long-running soap alongside Rudolf Martin, who would later play her half-brother "Ari Haswari" on "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" (2003). Cote guest-starred as "Gina" in the ABC series, "The Education of Max Bickford" (2001), acting alongside Academy Award-winners Richard Dreyfuss and Marcia Gay Harden, Golden Globe winner Regina Taylor, veteran actress Helen Shaver and actress Katee Sackhoff. She also had roles in "The $treet" (2000) and "When I Grow Up" (1990). In 2004, she starred in the short-lived FOX series, "The Jury" (2004) playing "Marguerite Cisneros".

In 2005, she played "Dolores Fuentes" in the stage musical "The Mambo Kings", and has starred in the hit CBS navy crime series, "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" (2003), as "Mossad Officer Ziva David" alongside Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Sean Murray and Lauren Holly.

As of 2008, Cote was living in Los Angeles, and spends her free time writing and performing original music.

Trivia

Attended Arvida Middle School in Miami, Florida.
She was born in Santiago, Chile, but was raised in Miami.
She attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she studied music theater and graduated in 2000.
She has a slit in her left earlobe from a childhood accident - She caught her earring on a pillowcase. {TV Guide interview}
When she hosted the show "Control" (1994), Cote went by the name "Maria Jose de Pablo".
Appeared in a Volkswagen commercial in 2004, entitled "Rear View." (Marketing Y Medios).
Sings a song on "NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack" called "Temptation.".
Drives a Toyota Prius.

Personal Quotes

Coming from the theater I love the adrenalin rush from working on NCIS. You get home and you're exhausted, but you feel like you've really worked. It's such a masochistic thing. In one episode we were shooting boxed in a container from 7 in the morning to 12 at night. There's gunfire in the container...We had to pretend the truck was moving so we had to keep ourselves moving the whole time. I remember my knees were all bruised up because I had to fall so many times. That was taxing on the body. - on doing stunts in NCIS.
Most of the time I rest, try to do a movie or just watch them at home. I'm into watching old movies I haven't seen like Roman Polanski's 'Macbeth'. Occasionally I go out with friends, but there's no time to really go clubbing like I used to. I have to take care of myself because if you get sick you still have to work. I'm not much a party animal anyway. I lay low. I like to be grounded by nature, go hiking... go to an isolated island that's not glamorous and touristy at all. And if somebody special is sitting next to me, then so be it.

Where Are They Now

(2009) Appeared in an infomercial, hosted by Cindy Crawford and Valerie Bertinelli, for Cindy's "Meaningful Beauty" anti-aging skin care system.

Thomas Mark Harmon

With an athletic father and an actress mother, it is no surprise Harmon played college football and has found success as one of TV's hunkiest actors. While most of his roles have relied on little more than good looks, Harmon was impressive as the suave doctor on "St. Elsewhere" (1982) who contracted AIDS.

Mini Biography

Son of Tom Harmon and Elyse Knox. Sister Kelly Harmon is the Tic-Tac model. Oldest sister is Kristin Harmon, painter and ex-wife of Ricky Nelson. That makes him the uncle of musicians Matthew Nelson and Gunnar Nelson of the band Nelson and the actress Tracy Nelson. In 1987 Harmon and his wife, Pam Dawber, sued his sister Kristin Harmon for custody of her youngest son, Sam.

Spouse

Pam Dawber

(21 March 1987 - present) 2 children

Trivia

Harmon and Pam Dawber have two children: Sean Harmon born 25 April 1988 and Ty Christian Harmon born 25 June 1992.
Chosen as People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. [1986]
His godfather Forest Evashevski is in the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
Risked his life to save two teenage boys who were involved in a car accident outside of his home. Harmon used a sledge hammer from his garage to break the window out of their car then pulled them free so they wouldn't be burned to death, while his wife Pam Dawber called 911. He made every effort to downplay his role in saving their lives. [1996].
Graduated cum laude from UCLA, 1974, with degree in communications. Also played quarterback for UCLA Bruins, 1972-73 winning National Football Foundation Award for all-round excellence.
Worked as a carpenter before he hit it big.
No relation to Angie Harmon, although both have starred in a series also starring Sasha Alexander..
Not the grandson of former U.S. Secretary of the Navy William Franklinn (Frank) Knox, since his mother - born Elsie Lillian Kornbrath to Frederick and Elizabeth Kornbrath in Hartford, Connecticut - was not Knox's daughter. This is despite many modern sources suggesting that she is.
Father, Tom Harmon, played for the University of Michigan Wolverines and won the 1940 Heisman Trophy emblematic of the best player in the nation.
QB of the 1972-1973 UCLA Bruins. Teammate of Randy Gaschler.

Personal Quotes

I'm in the business to push it. I'm not likely to be attracted to characters I've already done. I have to be almost frightened by the possibility of taking it on. Over the years I realise I must enjoy walking that edge, I keep doing it. It's why I like what I do. The only other job I've ever had that provides that time in the morning where you're going to work and you can't wait to get there and the sun's rising and you're moving toward something you look forward to getting up and doing every day was being a carpenter. And it was because you're doing something different every day.

Michael Weatherly

Michael was born in New York City on 8th July 1968. Raised in Fairfield, CT, he left college to pursue a career in acting. He also had a great passion for music, and played in a band while pursuing his acting career. While playing in the band, he began acting professionally and landed his first job as Theo Huxtable's roommate on "The Cosby Show" (1984) and a role in the independent film Trigger Happy (2001) opposite Rosario Dawson . This led to numerous guest spots on television and brought him to Los Angeles. After moving to Los Angeles, he landed a series regular role in the FOX television series "Significant Others" (1998) . Michael then met director Whit Stillman , who cast him in the film The Last Days of Disco (1998) opposite Chloë Sevigny . Michael also starred as Christina Applegate 's ex-husband on the television series _"Jesse" (1999)_ and in the films The Specials (2000) opposite Rob Lowe , Venus and Mars (2001) opposite Lynn Redgrave and Gun Shy (2000) opposite Liam Neeson and Sandra Bullock . In 1995, he married actress Amelia Heinle who appeared with him in both "The City" (1995) and "Loving" (1983). Tragically, their marriage ended in divorce in 1997, despite the birth of their son August in 1996. Michael currently resides in Los Angeles.

Spouse

Bojana Jankovic	(September 2009 - present)
Amelia Heinle	(1995 - 1997) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Has one son, August Manning, born in 1996, with ex-wife Amelia Heinle.
Son of Michael Manning Weatherly, Sr., who made millions as the American importer of the Swiss Army Knife, and Patricia, a hospital administrator.
Was engaged to "Dark Angel" (2000) co-star Jessica Alba. In a 2008 interview with Elle Magazine, Alba called Weatherly her "first love" and heavily hinted that she lost her virginity to him.
Briefly dated Rachel Hunter after her separation from Rod Stewart.
He attended Boston University, American University in Washington DC, American University in Paris and Menlo College before dropping out of college completely to pursue an acting career.
Attended Fairfield Country Day School in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Played in a band to supplement his acting in the early days of his career. He plays guitar and piano. He also sold shoes, delivered pizzas, dabbled in songwriting and also worked in the videotape library of ABC. A big part of his job there was to log and cart around one-inch reels of videotape.
Uncle of Alexandra Breckenridge from "Dirt" (2007) and She's the Man (2006).
Attended the TV Week Logies on May 6, 2007 as an international guest for Channel 10. The Logies were held in the Crown Casino Complex in Melbourne, Australia. Michael was accompanied by his niece, Alexandra Breckenridge .
Took his mom to see Borat.
Mother is Patricia O'Hara.
Played "Robert Wagner" in The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004) (TV). Robert Wagner plays Michael's character's father on "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" (2003).
1986 graduate of Brooks School located in North Andover, MA.
When NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service (2003), in which he stars, wanted to release a soundtrack, the invited him to record a song. He recorded "Bitter and Blue". The success of the song led to Michael recording several more songs, including "Pretty Baby", "All Fall Apart", "Lovlihead", and "Suffer for Me".
Michael and his wife Bojana have a pet German Shepherd named Oriana.

Personal Quotes

[On his wife Bojana] I found the supermodel doctor who likes to cook. I'm the luckiest guy in the world, right?

Abby Sciuto Character From NCIS (2003)

Abby Sciuto is the Gothic forensic at NCIS and has close relationships with many members of the NCIS team, most notably Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Doctor Donald 'Ducky' Mallard, Tony DiNozzo, Tim McGee and Caitlin 'Kate' Todd. She is known to be Gibbs' 'favorite' and often exchanges signs of affection with him - i.e. kisses on the cheek or silent exchanges via sign language. Gibbs is very protective of Abby and has demonstrated this on numerous occasions.

She's a little bit of a geek when it comes to technology , particularly the equipment in her lab. She names and talks to her machines, and her favorite is 'Major Mass Spec'. Whenever she gets new equipment, she has a tradition of taking a photo of herself next to it, as seen in "Brothers In Arms."

Abby loves Caf-Pow (a high caffeinated fruity drink available at the local coffee shop). At the end of season 4, in reaction to Gibbs' departure, she decides she is going to quit caffeine, but that ends by season 5 episode 2 "Family."

In 'Split Decision' (Season One: episode 20) Abby makes fake ID's for DiNozzo and Gibbs' undercover ops, and then reveals she's been making fake ID's since she was 15 years of age. You also find out in Kill Ari Pt. II that she has been driving stick shift autos since she was 10 "With Bubba riding shotgun." (according to her, Bubba was "The best damn coon dog in Jefferson Parish") She's an expert with computers and... well, fraud.

As mentioned above, Abby and Gibbs can also communicate by signing. Abby learned because her mother was deaf. This signing is much to the dismay and irritation of the rest of the team members, especially DiNozzo.

Abby was once in a relationship with Tim McGee, but this fizzled out in season two and the pair have become close friends as a result. She has demonstrated a soft spot for the probie agent on more than one occasion but their relationship is less romantic and more that of best friends or even siblings now.

She's a sensitive character who covers her emotions well with over-enthusiasm and an almost child-like quality but she was shown to be openly grieving when Kate Todd died at the end of season two/beginning of season three, and likewise when Director Jenny Shepard died at the end of season five.

Mini Biography About Pauley Perrette

Pauley Perrette was born in New Orleans and moved several times as a child due to her father's job. She graduated college with Honours - receiving her Master's Degree in Criminology. She also studied Sociology and Psychology. She was - and still is - completely obsessed with the study of Forensic Science. She released a CD, and also has her own record company - GO Records. She currently lives in L.A. with two dogs, a cat- and any random people who show up. She has a sister - whom she absolutely adores, as well as a father. Her mother passed away in 2002. Her sister currently lives in Tennessee, and her dad lives in Alabama. Perrette says that the thing that keeps her going is Faith. Faith in God, Faith in herself, in time, in change, in infinity, in resilience, opportunity, fate, learning, the similarities and differences in us all. But, above all else, a faith in the fact that someone has everything under control - no matter how bad things may seem.

Spouse

Michael Bosman	(14 February 2009 - present)
Coyote Shivers	(20 October 2000 - 15 June 2004) (divorced)

Trivia

Poet and Spoken Word artist.
She is a published Poet.
Her two favorite published CD's are "Distorted Lullabies" and "Precious".
If all else fails, she would like to be a Security Guard someday.
Married to Michael Bosman [February 14, 2009].
Cares great deal about car safety, so much that she has three Volvo's. Even tried to get her character on NCIS to drive a Volvo.
She was the lead singer in the all-girl punk band Lo-Ball.
Is very passionate about animal rescue and has two rescued dogs, one being a Chihuahua called Cece.
Has a tattoo on the side of her finger which reads 12 21 which stands for Romans chapter 12 verse 21 - Never be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Personal Quotes

I am proudly voting No on Proposition 8. And am proud to be able to say years from now, when there are plenty more married couples of all types and shapes and colors and sizes trying to do the right thing with their marriage, that I did the right thing.