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Air Force Office of Special Investigations

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI or AFOSI)[5] is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency that reports directly to the Secretary of the Air Force. OSI is also a U.S. Air Force field operating agency under the administrative guidance and oversight of the Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force. By federal statute,[6][7][8] OSI provides independent criminal investigative, counterintelligence and protective service operations worldwide and outside of the traditional military chain of command. Proactively, OSI identifies, investigates, and neutralizes serious criminal, terrorist, and espionage threats to personnel and resources of the Air Force, Space Force, and the U.S. Department of Defense, thereby protecting the national security of the United States.[3]

Office of Special Investigations
Office of Special Investigations emblem[1]
Office of Special Investigations emblem[1]
Office of Special Investigations special agent badge[2]
Office of Special Investigations
special agent badge[2]
AbbreviationOSI
Agency overview
Formed1 August, 1948
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyUnited States
Operations jurisdictionUnited States
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersRussell-Knox Building, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA Quantico, Virginia
Special Agents2,000[3]
Unsworn members1,000[3]
Agency executives
  • Brig Gen Amy Bumgarner, Commander
  • Col Sean Philips, Deputy Commander
  • Mrs. Pearl Mundt, Executive Director
  • CMSgt James Hoy, Command Chief
Parent agencyDepartment of the Air Force
Units
Several[3][4]
  • Regions 1 - 8, Field Support Squadron, Procurement Fraud, Special Investigations Academy, Special Projects, and Investigations, Collections, Operations Nexus (ICON) Center
Regions7
Website
www.osi.af.mil Edit this at Wikidata

Overview

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The Office of Special Investigations capabilities:[9]

  • Protect critical technologies and information
  • Detect and mitigate threats
  • Provide global specialized services
  • Conduct major criminal investigations
  • Engage foreign adversaries and threats offensively

OSI's Cornerstone is to vigorously solve crime, protect secrets, warn of threats, exploit intelligence opportunities, and operate in cyber.[clarification needed][9] OSI investigates a wide variety of serious offenses – espionage, terrorism, crimes against property, violence against people, larceny, computer hacking, acquisition fraud, drug use and distribution, financial misdeeds, military desertion, corruption of the contracting process, and any other illegal activity that undermines the mission of the Air Force, Space Force, or the DoD.

As of 2007, OSI had 2,900 employees. After pilot training, OSI remains the second-most requested career choice in the Air Force for officers.[10]

History

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The Office of Special Investigations was founded in 1948 at the suggestion of Congress to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington created OSI as a Field Operating Agency and patterned it after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He appointed Special Agent Joseph Francis Carroll, a senior FBI official and assistant to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, as the first Commander of OSI and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force. Carroll later became the first Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

The Office of Special Investigations was officially established by Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Carl Spaatz General Order No.1 of 2 January 1948. This same Order had appointed Joseph Francis Carroll as OSI commander.[11] The official letter of Carl Spaatz of 9 April 1948 set forth the functions and responsibilities of the Office of Special Investigations, which were "to provide a competent, centrally directed special investigations service to all Air Force activities", including the investigation of such major offenses as "fraud and/or conspiracy, arson, black-market operations, bribery, burglary, embezzlement, forgery, larceny, perjury, robbery, smuggling, and similar offenses ... and other major violations of the Articles of War, Federal Statute, and/or other pertinent directives".[12]

A new Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Hoyt Vandenberg signed the General Order No.29 of 15 July 1948 that empowered the Office of Special Investigations to carry out the counterintelligence activity including the detection of espionage, sabotage, treason, sedition, subversion, disloyalty, and disaffection. Also it was specifically stated that OSI would be responsible for all investigations formerly performed by the USAF Counterintelligence Corps.[13]

1 August 1948 is considered the operational date of the Office of Special Investigations.[14]

Organization

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Under the leadership of Brigadier General Francis Dillon, the command underwent a massive reorganization which transformed the agency from a geographically based organization with District field offices to one primarily realigned as Regions based on the needs of the Air Force's major commands.

The reorganization effort began in September 1991 by restructuring OSI headquarters. In mid-July 1992, a special order was issued, which authorized the deactivation of district offices and subordinate detachments, while simultaneously activated the field investigations region headquarters and subordinate detachments that exist today.

Those changes were official October 1, 1992, and on that date, OSI was also reorganized from an organization with 16 district offices to an organization with 7 field investigations regions. In addition to the AFOSI headquarters at Quantico, VA, OSI has seven field investigations regions aligned with Air Force major commands and the Unified combatant commands[3]

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide counterintelligence and security-program management for special-access programs under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.[15] [16]

In addition, OSI has several specialized investigative, training, or supporting units:[3]

  • Office of Special Projects (PJ)
  • Office of Procurement Fraud (PF)
  • Force Support Squadron (FSS)
  • U.S. Air Force Special Investigations Academy (USAFSIA)
  • Investigations, Collections, Operations Nexus (ICON) Center

AFOSI is the designated executive agency for the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center.

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands. In the OSI chains of command each region is directly under the OSI headquarters. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations squadrons, detachments, and operating locations. There are more than 255 AFOSI units worldwide including, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq and other Middle East locations.[17]

Antiterrorism Specialty Team (AST) members have played a key role in Operations ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. The first female OSI agent to deploy in a combat zone was a member of the AST, and currently several AST and other OSI agents continue to provide CI support for any ongoing operations.[18]

Operations

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Several OSI agents at a U.S. Air Force base.

Threat detection

OSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of hostile intelligence services and terrorist groups that target the Air Force and Space Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and computer infiltration. This mission aspect also includes providing personal protection to senior Air Force and Space Force leaders and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity.[3]

Criminal investigations

The vast majority of OSI's investigative activities pertain to felony crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, black market activities, and other serious criminal activities. In January 2014, while investigating synthetic drugs abuse, OSI uncovered the facts of cheating on monthly proficiency exams at the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana involving 79 officers.[3][19]

Economic crime investigations

A significant amount of OSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force and Space Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force and Space Force property, and major administrative irregularities. OSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force and Space Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force, Space Force, or Department of Defense (DoD) resources.[3]

 
An OSI interview

Information operations

The Air Force and Space Force is now countering a global security threat to information systems. OSI's role in support of Information Operations recognizes future threats to the Air Force and Space Force, and its response to these threats will occur in cyberspace. OSI's support to information operations comes in many forms. OSI's computer crime investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force and Space Force systems.[17]

Technology protection

The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the Air Force and Space Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force and Space Force technologies and collateral data. The OSI Research and Technology Protection Program provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force and Space Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities.[17]

Specialized services

OSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, polygraphers, behavioral scientists, computer experts and forensic advisers.[3]

Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center

The Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) was established as an organic entity within OSI in 1998. The formation of the DC3 expanded the operational scope of the OSI Computer Forensic Lab, established in 1995 as the first of its kind within the DoD. DC3 provides digital and multimedia forensics, cyber investigative training, research, development, test and evaluation, and cyber analytics for the following DoD mission areas: information assurance and critical infrastructure protection, law enforcement and counterintelligence, document and media exploitation, and counterterrorism. DC3 is a national cyber center and serves as the operational focal point for the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Program (DIB CS/IA Program).[3]

Force Protection Detachment Program

OSI personnel assigned to Force Protection Detachment Programs(FPD) work closely with host nation security and intelligence services to identify and mitigate terrorist threats, and are fully-integrated with the Department of State Country Team within the embassy. FPD agents leverage counterintelligence / AT expertise, language skills, and a deep understanding of cross-cutting international dynamics, to safeguard DoD resources abroad.[20]

Antiterrorism Specialty Team

Created out of a need to meet the increasing challenges presented by worldwide terrorism, AFOSI antiterrorism teams are maintained around the globe.[21] These highly trained and specialized AFOSI unit stands ready on a moment's notice to deploy globally to provide antiterrorism, counterintelligence information collections and investigative services to Air Force personnel and units.[22] Today's Antiterrorism Specialty Team(AST) executes full-spectrum counterintelligence, counterterrorism and force protection operations in support of contingency requirements.[20]

Training and physical requirements

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All new OSI special agent recruits—whether officer, enlisted, or civilian—receive their entry-level training at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia. The training requires that each recruit meet various physical requirements. The candidates attend the 12-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by eight weeks of OSI agency-specific coursework, at the U.S. Air Force Special Investigations Academy (USAFSIA), co-located at FLETC. Both courses offer new agents training in firearms and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, surveillance and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court testimony, and military and federal law. Upon graduation, new OSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counterintelligence, computer crimes and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week Department of Defense course.[10]

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, bench press, 1.5-mile (2.4 km) run/walk and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. OSI special agents are expected to remain physically fit throughout their employment and must maintain Air Force physical fitness standards as defined by Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2905.[10]

Firearms

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A U.S. Air Force Special Investigations Academy (USAFSIA) Instructor provides guidance on firing an AK-47 during the weapons familiarization training at the Senior Leader Security Seminar.

OSI agents' primary firearm is the 9×19mm Glock 19 or Glock 26, though other weapons are available for use depending on the needs of the mission, including the M4 and MP5. Agents may also carry one personally owned weapon (POW) from an approved list of manufacturers in 9mm. However, agents must qualify with one of the government-issued Glock pistols.

Air Force Academy Informant Program

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In December 2013, The Colorado Springs Gazette[23] reported that OSI was operating a Confidential Informant Program at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO, which recruited cadets to gather information about other rule breakers and criminals. The program left the recruits to take responsibility for both the initial incident that got them into trouble and any subsequent rule-breaking behavior resulting from the directions of OSI agents. One of the cadets who participated said, "...it was effective. We got 15 convictions of drugs, two convictions of sexual assault. We were making a difference. It was motivating, especially with the sexual assaults. You could see the victims have a sense of peace."[24]

In response, the USAFA Superintendent will now have oversight of the program at the Academy. Though the Superintendent will be aware of the operations, OSI will still have command and control of the program.[25]

Specialities

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OSI has a number of specialties composed of experienced Special Agents:

  • Tech Service;
  • Investigations;
  • counter-espionage;[29]

Notable agents

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  • Arlen Specter, former U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania and OSI special agent
  • Herb Bateman, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Virginia's 1st congressional district and OSI special agent, who passed away on 11 September 2000

Fallen Agents

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During the height of the Iraq & Afghan wars, OSI Special Agents conducted counterintelligence, protective service and force protection operations. These operations involved running sources in combat zones, tracking down IED cells, protecting senior leaders and regular collections "outside the wire." OSI combat deployments resulted in the injury & death of several Special Agents as a result of mortar attacks, IEDS and suicide bombers. Consequently, OSI has had the unfortunate distinction of the highest casualty rate among 1811 agencies during that time-frame.[33] [34]

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Rosario Dawson fires a M11 pistol at the firing range at Andrews Air Force Base, while researching her role in Eagle Eye.

See also

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Military Criminal Investigative Organizations

Department of the Air Force

Other

References

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  1. ^ "Fact Sheets: The AFOSI Shield Emblem". U.S. Air Force. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Fact Sheets: The AFOSI Badge". U.S. Air Force. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Fact Sheets: Air Force Office of Special Investigations". U.S. Air Force. 4 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Office of Special Investigations: Units". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Office of Special Investigations". Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. ^ "DOD Instruction 5505.16 Investigations by DoD Components" (PDF). Department of Defense. 23 June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  7. ^ "10 U.S.C. 2672 - Protection of buildings, grounds, property, and persons" (PDF). U.S. Government Publishing Office. 6 January 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  8. ^ "10 U.S.C. 9027 - Civilian special agents of the Office of Special Investigations: authority to execute warrants and make arrests" (PDF). U.S. Government Publishing Office. 30 October 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Air Force Office of Special Investigations". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  10. ^ a b c "Air Force Office of Special Investigations". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  11. ^ Hagerty, Edward (2008). The Air Force Office of Special Investigations 1948-2000. Quantico, Virginia: United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. p. 18.
  12. ^ Hagerty, Edward (2008). The Air Force Office of Special Investigations 1948-2000. Quantico, Virginia: United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. p. 26.
  13. ^ Hagerty, Edward (2008). The Air Force Office of Special Investigations 1948-2000. Quantico, Virginia: United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. p. 27.
  14. ^ Hagerty, Edward (2008). The Air Force Office of Special Investigations 1948-2000. Quantico, Virginia: United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. p. 28.
  15. ^ "Air Force Office of Special Investigations". Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Air Force Office of Special Investigations". Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Fact Sheets: Air Force Office of Special Investigations". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  18. ^ "The creation of the AST". Office of Special Investigations. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  19. ^ Adam Lowther. A year later: Responding to problems in the ICBM force Archived 2016-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 12 Feb 2015.
  20. ^ a b "AntiTerrorism Awareness: OSI's vigilance mission". Office of Special Investigations. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  21. ^ "The creation of the AST". Office of Special Investigations. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  22. ^ "AFOSI | Association of Former OSI Special Agents". Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Air Force Academy defends use of student informants, challenges reliability of ex-cadet". Dave Philipps. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  24. ^ "Stealth bombers: Air Force allegedly using snitches to catch rule-breaking cadets". Fox News. 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  25. ^ "Academy superintendent to oversee use of cadets as informants". 5 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  26. ^ "AFOSI Forensic Science: We'll find you". Office of Special Investigations. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  27. ^ "The origins and evolution of DC3". Office of Special Investigations. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Innovative approach increases polygraph efficiency". Office of Special Investigations. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  29. ^ "OSI counterespionage program nabs Soviet spy". Office of Special Investigations. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  30. ^ "The creation of the AST". Office of Special Investigations. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Protective Service Operations Training Program | Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers". www.fletc.gov. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  32. ^ "PSO: A special job for Special Agents". Office of Special Investigations. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  33. ^ "Office of Special Investigations > About > Fallen Agents". www.osi.af.mil. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Two AFOSI agents receive Bronze Star". 24 January 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  35. ^ "Airmen support new Hollywood movie 'Eagle Eye'". Office of Special Investigations. U.S. Air Force. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
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