Jeffrey H. Norwitz was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 30, 1952. He completed an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice at Eastern Kentucky University in 1974. After graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Military Police Corps and completed Airborne School before assignment to the 50th Ordnance Company where his duties involved security of nuclear weapons. He concluded three years active duty as the Executive Officer of the 4th Military Police Company, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Mr. Norwitz joined the El Paso County Sheriffs Office in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1978. As a patrol officer, he received awards for heroism, life saving and superior performance. His specialty assignments included SWAT team sniper, firearms instructor as well as Commander of the bomb squad responding to more than 500 incidents involving explosives. He was engaged in many prominent cases involving para-military groups espousing violence.
Special Agent Norwitz joined the civilian ranks of the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in 1985 and has served successive tours of duty as: Special Agent, NCIS Mare Island, California (1985-89); Special Agent, NCIS Headquarters Special Projects Division, Washington DC (1989-92); Special Agent, NCIS Resident Agency, Washington DC (1992-96); Staff Counterintelligence Officer, Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet, Okinawa, Japan (1996-99); and Supervisory Special Agent for Counterintelligence, NCIS Northeast Field Office, Newport, RI (1999-2000).
In 1994, the Honorable John H. Dalton, Secretary of the Navy, personally presented Special Agent Norwitz the Department of the Navy's Meritorious Civilian Service Medal for a highly classified intelligence effort directly effecting national security. Special Agent Norwitz received a second Meritorious Civilian Service Medal for his intelligence and counterterrorism accomplishments during 1998 hostilities of Operation DESERT FOX.
In 2001, Special Agent Norwitz graduated from the Senior Officer Course at the United States Naval War College and received a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies. He then joined Naval War College faculty where he is a Professor of National Security Decision Making in addition to developing courses in Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism. He received Provosts summa cum laude award for teaching excellence. Special Agent Norwitz has been published in the prestigious Naval War College Review, Journal of Homeland Security and has authored curriculum material for the Naval War College. His work also appears in Terrorism And Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment. (McGraw-Hill: 2003) and American Defense Policy 8th ed. (The Johns Hopkins University Press: 2005). He frequently lectures at some of the nations most influential academic institutions and, overseas to foreign navies and military audiences.
Special Agent Norwitz has been married for twenty-seven years to the former Gezelle Shonts of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have three grown children.