[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E142-E143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO SPECIAL AGENT RALPH BLINCOE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2010

  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Special Agent 
Ralph Blincoe, Deputy Director, Management and Administration, of the 
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), who will retire from that 
agency on February 27, 2010, after 28 years of highly distinguished 
service.
  Mr. Blincoe began his career as a Special Agent in 1982 with the 
then-named Naval Investigative Service (NIS) after graduating cum laude 
from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. After being selected for and 
completing the first NIS special agent basic class to graduate from the 
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator 
Training Program, Mr. Blincoe assumed his first duty assignment in San 
Diego, CA. While there, he served on the narcotics squad and, became 
dedicated to investigating procurement fraud matters. Mr. Blincoe was 
the first NCIS case agent to work a Group I undercover fraud operation 
with the FBI code-named ``Sandfish,'' which resulted in the conviction 
of multiple contractors and naval personnel for kickbacks and bribery. 
In 1986, Mr. Blincoe was short-toured from his assignment in Hawaii and 
transferred to the first of three NCIS Headquarters tours to become the 
co-case agent on Operation Iron Eagle, a massive effort focused upon 
corruption and irregularities committed by members of Seal Team 6, 
resulting in numerous indictments and convictions of civilians and 
military members including famed Navy Seal Richard Marcinko. For his 
efforts, Mr. Blincoe received a Navy Special Act Award and the 
Department of Defense Inspector General's Award for Investigative 
Excellence.
  Following Supervisory Special Agent tours at NCISRA Washington, D.C., 
and Jacksonville, FL, Mr. Blincoe was reassigned as the Supervisory 
Special Agent at Rota, Spain. Mr. Blincoe believes his three years in 
Spain were amongst the best of his life due to the excellent staff, 
great work, and close working relationships he developed with the 
Spanish law

[[Page E143]]

enforcement and intelligence agencies. It was also in Spain where Mr. 
Blincoe led a dedicated team of NCIS personnel whom were credited with 
saving the lives of two naval officers. As a result, Mr. Blincoe was 
awarded the Navy Superior Civilian Service Medal. In 1995, Mr. Blincoe 
moved to Naples, Italy and served as an Assistant Special Agent in 
Charge.
  In 1997 Mr. Blincoe was transferred back to NCIS Headquarters and 
then in 1999 was appointed the Deputy Assistant Director for Criminal 
Investigations. It was during this time period that he was selected to 
be the Navy's lead for the removal of hundreds of protestors from the 
Navy's bombing range at Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. This highly 
emotional crisis received daily international media attention, involved 
multiple federal agencies, and briefings to the senior-most levels of 
government. The removal plan was flawlessly executed and Mr. Blincoe 
received the Navy's Meritorious Civilian Service Medal for his efforts.
  After tours as the Special Agent in Charge at NCISFO Washington and 
as the Assistant Director for Administration, Mr. Blincoe was selected 
to be the first NCIS Executive Assistant Director for Combating 
Terrorism following the tragic events of 9/11. It was during this time 
period that Mr. Blincoe was promoted to the Senior Executive Service 
and has noted that he is particularly proud of the development of the 
counterterrorism strategies he and his team put together shortly after 
9/11, many of which still endure today. Following his 2004 to 2006 
assignment as the Executive Assistant Director for Atlantic Operations 
in Norfolk, VA, Mr. Blincoe returned to Washington for the final time 
when he was selected by Former NCIS Director Thomas Betro to be the 
Deputy Director for Operations, a position he held during one of the 
most demanding operational tempos in the agency's history. Some 
highlights of that time period include the Haditha/Hamdania 
investigation, the Chi-Mak and Ariel Weinmann espionage investigations, 
and the rebuilding of the NCIS economic crimes and proactive criminal 
operations programs. In 2008, Mr. Blincoe moved to the Management and 
Administration position and focused much of his time in the areas of 
leadership development, increasing diversity, the upcoming BRAC moves 
to Quantico and Fort Meade, and improving the expeditionary 
communications capability of NCIS.
  In retirement, Mr. Blincoe intends to initially volunteer his time 
and energy to various charitable causes in the greater Washington, 
D.C., area and then explore employment opportunities in the private 
sector. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank 
Mr. Blincoe for his 28 years of outstanding public service and to wish 
him fair winds and following seas as he begins the next chapter of his 
life.

                          ____________________