In an era where businesses face increasingly complex threats from internal fraud and workplace violence to cyber intrusion and geopolitical disruption, corporate security leaders are recognizing the value of military veterans, particularly those with criminal investigation backgrounds. Veterans bring discipline, strategic thinking, and operational rigor which align with modern corporate security. When supported by frameworks such as the ASIS International ANSI/ASIS INV-2025 Investigations Standard, these veterans become vital assets in building resilient, compliant, and intelligence-driven security operations.

Military criminal investigators from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Army Military Police Investigations, Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Air Force Security Forces Investigations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Navy Master at Arms, Coast Guard Investigative Service, and Marine Corps CID are trained to operate in diverse, high-stakes environments. Their duties involve investigating theft, sexual assault, espionage, fraud and terrorism. They manage informants, maintain evidentiary integrity, prepare detailed reports and testify in courts.

These competencies mirror those in the ASIS INV-2025 Standard, which emphasizes due process, objectivity, accurate documentation and defensibility of outcomes. Veterans understand investigative stakes and the importance of trust and legal compliance.

Alignment with ASIS INV-2025 Standard

The ANSI/ASIS INV-2025 Investigations Standard guides lawful and ethical investigations through:

• Initiation of Investigations: Assessing cause and legal authority
• Planning: Developing strategies, objectives, risks and resources.
• Conducting Investigations: Gathering facts lawfully, ethically and impartially.
• Reporting and Closure: Producing clear, legally sufficient reports.

Military investigators, trained under the UCMJ and service-specific policy, emphasize legal sufficiency, aligning with ASIS standards. For example, a former Air Force Security Forces Investigator would bring experience in interviews, surveillance, risk assessments, and open-source intelligence, which are skills vital for investigating misconduct or compliance issues while protecting people, assets, and reputation.

Corporate Relevance: Where Military Experience Shines

Workplace Investigations

Corporate cases often involve harassment, discrimination or time theft. Veterans excel in sensitive interviews, confidentiality and protection of rights. These align with the ASIS Workplace Violence and Active Assailant Standard (ASIS WVPI AA – 2020), which promotes investigative due diligence.

Insider Threat and Counterintelligence

Veterans with counterintelligence experience directly supports insider threat programs in finance, energy and technology. The National Insider Threat Task Force (NITTF) guidelines reinforce practices they already know.

Cyber Investigations and Digital Forensics

Modern military investigators are trained in digital forensics, metadata preservation and cybercrime response. Combined with industry certifications, this background strengthens corporate incident response and breach teams.

Case Studies: Military Investigators in Action

In July 2025, Air Force OSI investigated LED Lighting Solutions LLC for False Claims Act violations. The company falsely certified compliance with the Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts while supplying foreign-manufactured products to U.S. agencies, including the Air Force. The case resulted in a $300,000 settlement and contributed to OSI’s record fiscal year recovery exceeding $1 Billion. The agencies coordination of evidence and legal strategies highlighted investigative rigor directly applicable to corporate contexts.

In 2019, Air Force Security Forces Investigators worked with Glendale Police on a theft case at Luke Air Force Base. Investigators tracked more than 70 stolen items worth $18,000 from the Base Exchange. Their evidence contained surveillance, custody documentation, and stolen item tracking, enabled Glendale Police to arrest the civilian suspect for theft and trafficking. This level of protocol-driven evidence handling transfers seamlessly to corporate investigations and compliance audits.

Challenges and Recommendations

According to Eric Kready, CPP a retired U.S. Army Military Police Commander and now Head of Security, Southeast United States with SAP, “Military investigators are regularly tasked to conduct investigations in austere environments and dangerous conditions often with national and international security concerns and ramifications. These missions are intense as well as physically and mentally draining. The discipline needed to conduct these investigations under these conditions is unmatched and serves the corporate world as an integral intangible asset difficult to find anywhere else.”

While the transition from military to corporate investigation roles offers clear benefits, there are challenges:

• Commercial and Business Acumen: Learning business operations, regulatory environments, Human Resources (HR), and corporate legal protocols.
• Cultural Adjustment: Transitioning from a rank-based structure to a collaborative organization may require some adaptation.

O’Brian Jones, PMP, retired Air Force Security Forces Investigator and now SIU Investigator with Argo Group, explained, “After leaving the service, my first step was in the field of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) investigations. It was very different… but the foundation was the same, follow the evidence, stay objective, and make decisions based on integrity.”

Recommendations for Success

• Encourage industry certification, for example the ASIS International has the CPP – Certified Protection Professional and the PCI – Professional Certified Investigator, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners has the CFE – Certified Fraud Examiner to complement military experience with recognized industry credentials.
• Pair veterans with mentors to guide transitions.
• Promote continuous learning on business ethics, compliance, and privacy laws (EEOC, GDPR, Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA).

Veterans with military criminal investigation backgrounds bring tactical and operational excellence, ethical rigor, and proven leadership to corporate security teams. “A military veteran with a criminal investigations background brings a uniquely valuable skill set to the private sector. Their experience handling complex, high-stakes cases, like fraud, sexual assault, and counterintelligence, translates directly into corporate investigations, compliance inquiries, fraud prevention, insider threat programs, and workplace violence prevention. Their familiarity with evidence handling, reporting standards, and investigative documentation aligns closely with the needs of compliance, legal, and HR departments, helping organizations navigate audits, regulatory inquiries, and litigation support,” said Scot Walker, a retired Air Force Office of Special Investigations Special Agent now a thought leader and Subject Matter Expert in the corporate security industry and Principal and Co-Founder of Walker & Associates LLC.

Veterans with military criminal investigation backgrounds bring tactical and operational excellence, ethical rigor, and proven leadership to corporate security teams. Aligned with standards like ANSI/ASIS INV-2025, they can help corporations protect employees, assets, and reputation while fostering accountability, trust, and resilience. In an era of heightened risk and scrutiny, hiring and empowering these professionals is not just beneficial but a strategic imperative.