John Beattie

(Class of 1976)

From his days as an altar boy at church in Fayetteville to captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams as a high school senior, service and leadership have come naturally to John. But it was fate that led him to a career in which he has achieved outstanding success. “My plan was to go to school, maybe be a physical education or social studies teacher. I’d then get married, have a family, and live happily ever after in Central New York.”

With Coach Tom Hall’s encouragement John joined the FM lacrosse team. Then as a senior Coach said to him, “I’ve got some recruiters here to take a look at you to play.” With strong academic credentials as well, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. “I’d always been a patriotic type individual, even gave a speech about what independence means to me after the traditional 4^th of July parade in Manlius.”

John earned a B.S. in Political Science and served nine years as a line officer in the Navy, later transferring to the Naval Criminal Investigation Service. He served as an intelligence officer for Southeast Asia regional office in the Philippines. Over the years he has furthered his education, completing an M.A. in International Administration from Central Michigan University and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

As the team leader of a Department of Defense Business Process Engineering think tank, he led the development of a joint DOD intelligence analysis and production program. He earned the DOD Counterintelligence Award for Investigations and a Civilian Meritorious Service Medal for innovative methodology and analysis that resulted in an arrest and conviction in the Robert C. Kim espionage case. Due to John’s operational and analytical insights and experiences, he has participated in several joint NCIS/FBI nation level counterintelligence investigations.

The highlight of John’s career has been his service as Director in the NCIS Middle East Field Office in Bahrain. He provided direct Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism and Force Protection during such events as the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, 9/11, and the Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom campaigns. “I found it rewarding to see my work in situation awareness have direct and immediate benefits.”

In 2004, John, with a career of demonstrated unselfish devotion to duty and a strong analytical, operational and academic background, was asked to serve as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In this newly created position he is Program Manager for all civilian intelligence specialists worldwide and Deputy Chief for Analysis of the NCIS headquartered worldwide Multiple Threat Alert Center. John conducts his work from an office with no windows in Washington, D.C. where he is responsible for eyes that are open and viewing the world. John laughs, “I do a great deal of reading. It’s a lot more paper work than the TV show indicates!”

John and his wife Peggy Sue live in Crownsville, Maryland. With such demanding work, John enjoys spending time out of doors and working in his yard and gardens and taking care of their West Highland Terriers, Hakuna and Matata.. His son attends college in California. His parents and one sister still reside in Manlius.

Though his life took a different path than the high school senior anticipated, John has no regrets. He is happy that he can provide such valuable service to families and his country. He has found that he loves to travel, learn about other cultures, and meet the people of the world. “It truly makes one appreciate home.”