Special Agent Michael J. Pierce was appointed in April 2025 as the Assistant Director (AD) for the Human Resources Directorate for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), NCIS Headquarters (HQ), Quantico, VA. He is responsible for NCIS human resources business operations; leads human capital development and workforce planning; executes related strategic planning; directs activities to recruit, develop, and retain a talented and capable workforce; and manages executive services, staffing, compensation, classification, workforce analysis, and training for NCIS employees.
AD Pierce served formerly as the Special Advisor to the NCIS Director regarding employee wellness (2024-2025) and as the NCIS Ombudsman (2022-2024) at NCIS HQ; and as the Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) of the Marine West Field Office (MWFO), Camp Pendleton, CA (2022). As the NCIS Senior Representative to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) (2019-2022), he was the NCIS advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He ensured NCIS effectively supported USMC warfighters; and fostered relationships with USMC and other Department of the Navy (DON) members to promote the NCIS mission.
Formerly, AD Pierce was the acting Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge and the Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) with NCIS Resident Agency (NCISRA) Miramar, CA (2018-2019). He exercised programmatic oversight of criminal and counterintelligence investigations and operations, and protected DON research, development, and acquisition. He also represented NCIS, supporting the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Command General (CG), the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego CG, the Western Recruiting Region CG, the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Commanding Officer, and additional stakeholders. He was previously the SSA with NCISRA Camp Pendleton, CA (2016-2017).
AD Pierce began his career with NCIS in 2005 when he was a Gunnery Sergeant with the USMC and selected to serve as a Marine Special Agent. He was assigned initially to NCISRA Cherry Point, NC and Parris Island, SC. He deployed in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Given his investigative experience and knowledge of Marine Corps combat operations, he served as the senior agent at Camp Blue Diamond, Ar Ramadi, Iraq, where he supported several high-profile, law of armed conflict investigations. After serving for over twenty years, he retired from the USMC as a Master Sergeant and joined NCIS in 2010 as a full-time civilian.
AD Pierce is a graduate of Park University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice; and the University of Virginia, where he earned a Master’s Certificate in Criminal Justice Education. He has received numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal (2 stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 stars), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 stars).