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  • 53 years later: SA reflects on Vietnam War

    On March 29, the U.S. honors the bravery and sacrifice of its Vietnam War veterans with National Vietnam War Veterans Day. For Bill Arnold, a retired OSI Special Agent, it's a day to reflect on his service and his unique experience as a counterintelligence officer at Pleiku Air Base, Vietnam.

  • OSI At 75: The Business of Security During the Cold War

    On September 25, 1954, Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Carroll, gave a speech at the Pentagon during an orientation event for incoming staff members of Air Force Headquarters. The topic was the importance of recognizing individual responsibility for information security during the Cold War.

  • Inside an OSI Hall of Famer’s war on drug trafficking

    The Office of Special Investigations has a rich history. But few can match the impact and legacy of retired Special Agent Steve Minger. During his 42-year career with OSI, Minger dedicated himself to the war on drugs, leaving a lasting impact on the agency and cementing his legacy in it.

  • OSI at 75: Chasing Sputnik

    On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union used a converted intercontinental ballistic missile to launch Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to ever orbit the Earth. Sputnik 1 was a metal sphere weighing approximately 184 pounds and it was roughly the size of a basketball.

  • OSI at 75: The History and Essence of the OSI Badge

    The Office of Special Investigations badge was designed by Capt. Robert H. Ray in 1948. Ray, who was serving as the Chief of OSI’s Criminal Investigations Division at the time, was a former Army Counter Investigations Division special agent and a former Connecticut State Trooper. 

  • OSI at 75: SECAF Speech at FBI Graduation in 1948

    On June 25, 1948, the featured speaker at the graduation ceremonies of the FBI National Academy was the Honorable W. Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air Force. One of the topics he spoke about was the upcoming activation of the Office of Special Investigations.

  • OSI Year In Review

    2022 has been a banner year for OSI, bringing new challenges, inspiring stories, modern weapons, many closed cases and more that have defined it as a premiere federal law enforcement agency. As 2023 looms, we look back on several stories that paved our way the past 12 months.  

  • Looking Back: Operation RESTORE HOPE – OSI Operations in Somalia

    The primary mission of OSI in Somalia was the collection of counterintelligence information, antiterrorism, defensive air base operability, resource protection, counter-threat analysis and the production and delivery of various briefings to a range of military leaders.

  • Empowering Airmen on cybersecurity

    October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global effort to protect personal information and communication tools. The OSI 3rd FIS is partnered with 16th Air Force conducting investigative and counterintelligence activities in, through and beyond cyberspace vital to the nation’s interest.

  • National POW/MIA Recognition Day: Remembering OSI’s Own

    Every year, the third Friday in September is recognized in the United States as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. A few individuals have served with OSI who had been prisoners-of-war before joining the command. One was SA Crawford E. Hicks, who served with OSI from 1955 to 1966.