Tony DiNozzo Has Been Named NCIS Director

The veteran Special Agent assumed leadership of the agency in the season 24 premiere.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in People

Tony DiNozzo Has Been Named NCIS Director

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Tony DiNozzo has taken over as the director of NCIS following the death of Leon Vance. The appointment was confirmed during the season 24 premiere on October 6, 2026.

Why it matters

The change in leadership follows the death of long-time director Leon Vance in the 1000th episode of the series. The position was filled after the Secretary of the Navy appointed DiNozzo, who had initially turned down the role.

DiNozzo returns to the flagship series after 10 years away, having previously served as a Special Agent for the first 13 seasons. His tenure as director is confirmed for the entirety of season 24.

The players

Tony DiNozzo

He is a former Special Agent who returned to the NCIS flagship series to serve as the new director.

Leon Vance

He was the long-serving director of NCIS who died during the show's 1000th episode.

Gabriel LaRoche

He served as the temporary director of NCIS prior to the appointment of Tony DiNozzo.

The details

After saving the kidnapped daughter of the Secretary of the Navy, DiNozzo was offered the director role. He now replaces Gabriel LaRoche, who had been serving in the capacity of director on a temporary basis.

2025: NCIS: Tony and Ziva launched on Paramount+.
October 6, 2026: The premiere of NCIS Season 24 aired on CBS.

Market Landscape

The transition marks a significant creative shift for the long-running franchise following the cancellation of the spinoff NCIS: Tony and Ziva. This move consolidates talent back into the flagship production to anchor the season 24 narrative.

Viewers of the series will see the character transition from the canceled spinoff directly into a major leadership role on the flagship show. This change dictates the primary character arc for the duration of the current broadcast season.

The takeaway

The return of a legacy character to a leadership position serves as a major plot anchor for the show's 24th season. Fans can expect the narrative to center heavily on his adjustment to the administrative responsibilities of the director office.