Mark D. Ridley was appointed Acting Director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) on March 3, 2013, by the Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy.
As NCIS Acting Director, Mr. Ridley leads the agency as it investigates and defeats terrorist, foreign intelligence, and criminal threats to the United States Navy and Marine Corps wherever they operate: ashore, afloat, or in cyberspace.
Prior to his selection as Acting Director, Mr. Ridley was appointed as NCIS Deputy Director in Feb. 2010 and responsible for overseeing all agency operations and investigations involving felony crimes, combating terrorism, and counterintelligence and security as well as information sharing with other law enforcement and security agencies.
A career NCIS Special Agent (SA), Mr. Ridley began serving the Navy in 1987, in the Long Beach, CA, NCIS Resident Agency (NCISRA). In 1990, SA Ridley assumed duties as the Special Agent Afloat aboard the USS Forrestal and responsible for the full spectrum of NCIS support. SA Ridley also served in various field assignments in Jacksonville, FL, and Sasebo, Japan and in supervisory positions as the Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) in Sasebo, Japan and a Supervisory Special Agent at NCIS Field Office Carolinas, Camp Lejeune, NC. In 2001, SA Ridley became the RAC for NCISRA Camp Pendleton, CA, managing NCIS activities at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar; Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; and MCAS Yuma, AZ.
Selected as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the new Marine Corps West Field Office, Camp Pendleton, CA, in 2003, SA Ridley led NCIS activities associated with Marine Corps bases on the U.S. west coast. SA Ridley became Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Operations in 2004, with responsibility for worldwide counterintelligence investigations, operations and analysis. In Aug. 2005, SA Ridley was named Assistant Director for the new Directorate of Intelligence, entrusted with the agency’s worldwide criminal, counterintelligence and counterterrorism analysis mission. From July 2006 to Aug. 2007, SA Ridley served in a Senior Executive Service position as Executive Assistant Director for Pacific Operations and in Sept. 2007, he became Executive Assistant Director for Criminal Investigations.
A graduate of the University of Nevada with a degree in Criminal Justice, SA Ridley also earned a master’s degree in Justice Administration from Norwich University. In 1983, SA Ridley was commissioned in the U.S. Army Reserve and served six years. SA Ridley began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a jailer for the Reno Police Department and later joined Washoe County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff.
SA Ridley is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives’ Executive Board, serving as Special Assistant to the President for International Affairs and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police International Policing Division Steering Committee. During his tenure with NCIS, Special Agent Ridley has received numerous awards and honors, including the Naval Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1996.
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