Special Agent Ronald J. Possanza was selected as the Executive Assistant Director for Atlantic Operations in May 2008 and promoted to the Senior Executive Service.

Special Agent Possanza was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and a minor in Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Special Agent Possanza began his career as a Special Agent with the former Naval Investigative Service (NIS) in 1981, after serving two years with the United States Capitol Police, Washington, D.C.

Special Agent Possanza's assignments include the NIS Resident Agency (NISRA) Norfolk, Virginia (1981-1982); Sigonella, Sicily (1982-1985); and NISRA New London, Connecticut (1985-1988), where he was assigned as the Senior Special Agent responsible for counterintelligence (CI) programs in support of Commander Submarine Group Two (COMSUBGRU 2).

Beginning in 1988, Special Agent Possanza served in distinguished assignments as the Senior NIS Representative to the American Embassy Rome and the Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Intelligence Division, during the historic meeting between President Bush and Premier Gorbachev in Malta in 1989. In 1993, he was assigned as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Counterintelligence and Combating Terrorism, NCIS Norfolk Field Office. He attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned a Master of Science degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, graduating with distinction in 1998. He has served as a Supervisory Special Agent, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, and as a Senior NCIS CI advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition at the Pentagon, responsible for coordinating CI support to Acquisition Category programs in the Department of the Navy.

In May 2004, he accepted, on behalf of Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense Counterintelligence Agency Achievement Award for Joint Counterintelligence support to Operation Iraqi Freedom, while assigned as the Chief, Joint Staff Support Branch, J2, Joint Staff.

Special Agent Possanza assumed duties as Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Europe Field Office, Naples, Italy in June 2004, in direct support of Commander, Naval Forces Europe (CNE-C6F) and the European Command. The Director of NCIS selected Special Agent Possanza as the first Senior NCIS Representative to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces in Norfolk, Virginia in October 2006.