QUANTICO, VA –
No other military criminal investigative organization matches the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s global integration and operational flexibility. When NCIS says its Special Agents are everywhere, it’s not just a reference to the agency’s 191 locations across 41 countries.
It also includes Special Agents Afloat—NCIS personnel deployed at sea.
Established in the early 1970s, the Special Agent Afloat program uniquely applies NCIS’ mission to support deployed units, said NCIS Special Agent James Curry, Enterprise Support Division Chief. Afloat Special Agents are embedded with carrier strike groups and
amphibious readiness groups, providing investigative and security solutions that neutralize threats to the Department of the Navy’s personnel, assets, and technologies.
“The Special Agent Afloat is one of the positions within this collective that provides additional layers of protection to our service members, helping commands maintain good order and discipline, and providing specialized engagement with host country law enforcement and security services as they travel the world,” said Curry. “The daily work our Special Agents do allows the Navy to project deterrence through strength and to solidify a warrior ethos through accountability of deployed personnel.”
Curry added that serving as a Special Agent Afloat builds appreciation for NCIS’ mission. While conducting investigations at sea, the agent often needs to get back to basics and be creative, ultimately enhancing the agency with personnel who can return to the core of investigative theory. At sea, they may interact with foreign law enforcement and security services, forging relationships that help mitigate threats to Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
“That forward-working capability continues to enhance the NCIS mission worldwide,” he said.
Becoming a Special Agent Afloat
A typical deployment for an NCIS Special Agent Afloat lasts about eight months, not including pre-deployment training or post-deployment tasks such as case handoff and evidence offloading.
Special Agents selected for afloat duty complete the Special Agent Afloat Training Program, which covers operational expectations and allows them to gain insight from other agents who have served in the role. They also participate in Underwater Egress Training, commonly referred to as the “helo-dunker,” which simulates escaping from a submerged helicopter.
Integrating with ship command staff can be a challenge. Because NCIS Special Agents serve a law enforcement function, they may not initially be seen as mission partners. Curry compares the role to that of a small-town police officer embedded in the community.
“This is why we try to get the Special Agent to the ship well before a deployment, if we can, and why a permanent change of station is preferred,” he said. “That additional time and connection with the crew becomes a helpful icebreaker.”
Being on the Ship
The Special Agent Afloat program allows NCIS to operate alongside the Navy and Marine Corps anywhere in the world. The Special Agent Afloat is integrated into the ship’s operations, representing NCIS in meetings and decisions.
“The Special Agent Afloat is, first and foremost, NCIS’ ambassador to the Navy, working diligently with command staff,” said Curry.
To succeed, Special Agents must adapt to unique operational tempos. If they need to talk to someone, they can’t just pull them off the flight line during operations, according to NCIS Special Agent Amber Smell, National Security Directorate Division Chief. Smell deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) from October 2023 to July 2024.
“You have to be flexible with their schedules,” she said, “but it’s also nice because everybody is sort of trapped in that environment making it much easier to have access to the people you need.”
Smell joined NCIS in 2005 and had aspired to serve afloat.
During her deployment, she worked seven days a week as the sole NCIS Special Agent aboard a ship with 5,000 to 7,000 personnel.
“You are a one-man show for the most part,” said Smell. “The cavalry is not coming right away, so you have to be able to handle anything that arises.”
She did not anticipate deploying into a combat zone or spending nearly six months at sea without a port call.
“We ended up deploying a week after the conflict in Israel occurred, which changed the direction of our deployment,” said Smell. “We went to the Middle East and the Red Sea, directly responding to Houthi threats.”
She expected a demanding caseload, but not the 40 cases that came in within four months. By the end of her deployment, she had worked at least 75 cases.
Shipboard life also forced Smell to be flexible and creative, such as when there was an issue with her office aboard ship, so she created a mobile office to conduct interviews wherever she could find an empty room.
Despite the challenges, Smell described the experience as one of the most impactful of her career.
“You see the Navy from a completely different perspective,” she said.
Special Agent Ian Bland, who served as Special Agent Afloat aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) from March 2023 to March 2024, echoed that sentiment. His deployment spanned the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility and supported Operation Prosperity Guardian, countering Houthi threats to maritime traffic.
“Many of the Sailors are only 18 or 19 years old, yet they’re entrusted with enormous responsibility” Bland said. “Embedding with the crew allowed me to build trust and relationships that made NCIS more effective. Once they understood our mission, they opened up.”
The high-tempo environment pushed Bland to grow personally and professionally. Special Agents Afloat require a level of independence and autonomy especially in regard to day-to-day decision making and planning.
“You’re it, you’re the law enforcement and counterintelligence expert for the entire ship. Your input matters,” said Bland. “I saw it as a chance to not only to serve but to stretch myself – to test my judgment, adapt to new demands, and see the impact of our work in a dynamic operational setting.”
Bland found the isolation challenging but said it brought him some clarity about his role.
“Ashore, there’s a team to consult. Afloat, it’s all you,” said Bland. “Every decision you make carries weight. But that responsibility helps guide you. You’re there to protect the Sailors and Marines, and that matters.”
A Shifting Perspective
From exercising full autonomy to observing how Sailors adapt to challenges, the afloat role can shift an agent’s outlook.
“Representing NCIS in foreign ports reminded me of the reach and responsibility of our work,” Bland said. “It’s not just law enforcement—it’s about diplomacy and presence.”
Smell agreed.
“Depending on your ship and region, the experience varies,” she said. “You may visit countries you wouldn’t otherwise see. It’s challenging but also rewarding.”
The Special Agent Afloat program extends NCIS’ reach beyond the shoreline, embedding agents directly in the Navy’s operational environment. These agents operate independently, often in isolated, high-tempo conditions, playing a critical role in protecting service members, supporting mission success, and strengthening global partnerships. In doing so, they directly support the Department of War’s National Defense Strategy by reinforcing deterrence, advancing a warrior ethos, and extending the reach of U.S. defense operations.