Special Agent Mark D. Ridley joined the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in 1987, serving in the Long Beach, California Resident Agency. He served as a Special Agent Afloat aboard the USS FORRESTAL in 1990. Special Agent Ridley also served in various field assignments in Jacksonville, Florida and Sasebo, Japan.

In 1998, Special Agent Ridley entered the supervisory ranks as the Resident Agent in Charge in Sasebo, Japan. Additionally he has served as a Supervisory Special Agent at NCIS Field Office Carolinas, Camp Lejeune, NC. In 2001,  Special Agent Ridley was assigned as the Resident Agent in Charge for the NCIS Resident Agency Camp Pendleton, California, with responsibility for NCIS  activities at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar; Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; and MCAS Yuma, Arizona.

In 2003, Special Agent Ridley was selected as the Special Agent in Charge of the newly formed Marine Corps West Field Office, Camp Pendleton, California, essentially responsible for NCIS activities associated with Marine Corps bases on the Western U.S. coast. In 2004, Special Agent Ridley was assigned as the Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Operations with responsibility for worldwide counterintelligence investigations, operations and analysis.

In August 2005, Special Agent Ridley was selected as Assistant Director for the newly formed Directorate of Intelligence, entrusted with the agency’s worldwide criminal, counterintelligence and counterterrorism analysis mission. From July 2006 to August 2007, he served as the Executive Assistant Director for Pacific Operations, a Senior Executive Service position. In September 2007, Special Agent Ridley was selected as the Executive  Assistant Director for Criminal Investigations. On February 22, 2010, Special Agent Ridley was appointed as Deputy Director.

Special Agent Ridley is a graduate of the University of Nevada with a degree in Criminal Justice. He earned a master’s degree in Justice Administration from Norwich University. In 1983, Special Agent Ridley was commissioned as a 2LT in the USAR and served six years. He started his law enforcement career in 1984, working for the Reno Police Department as a jailer, and subsequently joined the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff.

Special Agent Ridley is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives’ (NOBLE) Executive Board, serving as the Special Assistant to the NOBLE President for International Affairs. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) International Policing Division Steering Committee. During his tenure with NCIS, Special Agent Ridley has received numerous awards and honors, including the Naval Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1996.