‘NCIS’ has the perfect replacement for Director Leon Vance after Rocky Carroll’s exit and it’s a fan-favorite
There was a time when 'NCIS' was unthinkable without the dexterous and benign presence of Director Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll. However, as the landmark 500th episode of the CBS show saw the death of the Navy Criminal Investigative Service's longest-serving director, a power vacuum has opened. Although Vance feared that the entire agency might be broken up, his ultimate sacrifice in the Billy Fuentes case eventually saved the day. The timing is right for a new leader to assume the reins of the agency, and Timothy McGee, played by Sean Murray, might just be the best fit.
The fact that Vance would no longer appear on the CBS show is indeed heartbreaking. However, it might not be too difficult to fill the absence created by his on-screen death. Time and again, and over the past years, McGee has repeatedly proven himself to be up to the big job. He started as a probationary agent and gradually established himself as the second-in-command to both Vance and Alden Parker. He has excelled in the past as a field agent as well. It is worth mentioning that McGee is one of the senior-most NCIS field agents stationed in Washington. His technical background and impressive skill set make him virtually indispensable for the agency as a whole.
Before enlisting with 'NCIS,' McGee had crossed paths with Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Tony DiNozzo, played by Michael Weatherly, at the Norfolk Field Office. McGee has a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins and a master's degree in computer forensics from MIT, which goes a long way toward making his resume highly recommended. Following Gibbs' departure in Season 19 of the CBS show, McGee was initially reluctant to step into the big office, believing it would consume his life and leave him with little personal time. However, by the time Season 22 of 'NCIS' rolled in, McGee had changed his mind and started coveting the NCIS Deputy Director position.
If 'NCIS' were to replace McGee in his current position and make him the new director, there are quite a few viable alternatives who could take his place. For starters, there's J. Claude Deering's Curtis Hubley, the technical operator or 'Tech Troll' as he is commonly known. Hubley usually works in the basement and has recently expressed interest in becoming a probationary agent. There's also Dale Sawyer, played by Zane Holtz. Sawyer has been in charge of the night crew, or the 'B Team', at the NCIS headquarters and has been a recurring character throughout the show. No matter who replaces McGee, it is certain that 'NCIS' will have to make a few major narrative overhauls before things can once again go back to normal on the show.
