2024 Distinguished Alumnus: TOM COYLE ’69 | FORMER NCIS OFFICER

Tom Coyle ’69 served with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) for 20 years, long before it became the inspiration for one of America’s most popular TV shows. He retired from the agency in 2004, a year after the show premiered, and unexpectedly found himself a “celebrity.”

“Everybody knew the show by then,” he recalled with a laugh. “When I showed my credentials at the airport, people would literally ask for my autograph.”

Coyle’s real career, however, was no television drama. As an NCIS investigator and later a national security consultant, his work carried significant real-life implications. On Oct. 18,

Mr. Coyle returned to the Upper School campus to receive the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented annually by the Alumni Advisory Council. Speaking to students, faculty, and former classmates on the Stanwich Road campus, he shared insights from a life dedicated to service and security.

During his NCIS tenure, Coyle investigated serious crimes, including homicides, involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel. “If, for example, someone deliberately sabotaged a nuclear reactor to delay a ship’s six-month deployment, that’s a very serious issue,” he said. “Such acts have national security implications and demand accountability.”

Coyle’s responsibilities extended to counterintelligence and security. He assessed port safety worldwide, providing commanders with intelligence and recommendations for ship deployments. “If a ship was headed to Dubai or Pusan, South Korea, NCIS agents on the ground gathered intel to guide the admiral’s decisions,” he explained.

After retiring from NCIS, Coyle held senior roles at CACI and Leidos, advised the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence, and taught at the Department of Defense Joint Counterintelligence Training Academy. Today, he is president and CEO of Talon Security Solutions and teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia.

A two-time recipient of the Navy Civilian Meritorious Service Medal, Coyle reflected on his career, “I used my skills to convince people, tell hard truths, and interrogate effectively. It was a fulfilling journey.”

During the presentation, a student in the audience asked him about the balance between security and civil liberties. “One has to look at every situation based on its unique circumstances, weighing all factors—there is never just a one-sized answer,” said Coyle.

Coyle reflected on the start of his journey in service with students. At 16, he began volunteering at the Round Hill firehouse. He recalled, “When the siren sounded, signaling the fire truck would leave in five minutes, everyone showed up. That sense of responsibility and teamwork has stayed with me ever since.”

At GCDS, he remembers teachers like Ms. Molinari, whose guidance shaped his early years. “At a time when the cultural norm discouraged left-handedness, she supported my natural inclination to write with my left hand. Her willingness to go against convention embodied the freedom Country Day School gave its teachers to educate in ways they believed best. This wasn’t just about writing—it was about valuing individuality and fostering confidence.”

“Country Day was a place where excellence was the expectation,” Coyle said. “It touched everything—academics, behavior, and personal conduct. We were taught to bring our best every day, to focus, and to respect others. A firm handshake, eye contact, and politeness weren’t optional; they were essential.”

In closing, Coyle offered his email to students interested in military careers. “A few students approached me afterward,” he said, clearly pleased. “It’s great to see that interest in service.”

TOM COYLE’S ADVICE FOR STUDENTS

1. Treat everyone you meet with dignity and respect. Humility is the #1 most underrated human quality. Practice it every single day.

2. Spend most of your time “looking out the front windshield of life,” where you are headed, not that teeny rear-view mirror (where you’ve been). That front windshield is a lot bigger than the rear-view mirror.

3. Do not keep score by money or by possessions. Instead, keep score by the number of folks you’ve been able to help, guide, assist and mentor along the way.

4. Lead the way. You are a leader the moment you decide to become one. Lead with both

inspiration and with trust! If not you, then who?

5. Don’t complain. Either do something about it, and if you can’t—just be quiet. Nobody really wants to hear you complain.

6. Don’t judge people. Help people who need your help.

7. “Leaders Eat Last,” think about others first. (Read Simon Sinek’s book about it.)

8. Be grateful for this incredible school and your outstanding, devoted teachers, and coaches. You likely have no idea just how fortunate each one of you is to be here.