Jeremy R. Gauthier became the fifth civilian Director of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) in September 2022. He serves as the senior federal criminal investigative executive within the U.S. Coast Guard. He directs and oversees investigations of felony-level crimes under the Uniform Code of Military Justice; and crimes committed by employees or other persons on Coast Guard bases and assets, or in or affecting Coast Guard activities; and crimes on the high seas and waters where the U.S. has jurisdiction. He also manages CGIS participation in federal, state, and local task forces to provide maritime law enforcement information and facilitate information sharing.
Prior to his selection as Director, Mr. Gauthier served as an agent for over 20 years with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Most recently, he was the Strategic Advisor to the NCIS Director. Mr. Gauthier developed new initiatives and policies across mission areas, and engaged with executive leadership on behalf of the Director. Formerly, Mr. Gauthier served as the acting Executive Assistant Director and Assistant Director (AD) with the Cyber Directorate. He led 170 personnel, advanced cyber innovation for the agency, and coordinated investigations and operations in the cyber domain to detect, deter, and neutralize criminal and foreign intelligence threats to the Department of the Navy.
Mr. Gauthier’s prior leadership positions further include AD for Atlantic Operations, where he oversaw eight field offices and elements throughout the Eastern United States, Europe, the Middle East, and aboard carrier and expeditionary strike groups; Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) of the Washington Field Office, where he oversaw criminal and counterintelligence activities in the National Capital Region, Delaware, Eastern Maryland, and West Virginia; and Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Investigations and Operations Directorate (Criminal Directorate). His prior assignments include Division Chief for the Family Sexual Violence Program, Criminal Directorate; Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the Northeast Field Office; and Supervisory Special Agent assignments in the Northeast Field office and Contingency Response Field Office across criminal and national security disciplines.
Mr. Gauthier served 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, the last five of which were as a Marine Special Agent with NCIS at NCIS Resident Agency Parris Island, SC. In 2005, Mr. Gauthier transitioned to a civilian Special Agent with NCIS where he served in a variety of global assignments and mission areas, including NCIS Resident Agencies in Little Creek, VA, Al Asad, Iraq, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Newport, RI, and the Contingency Response Field Office, Glynco, GA.
Mr. Gauthier earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Park University while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.