Cliff Everton ’96, executive assistant director of global and Atlantic operations at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, has been selected as William & Mary’s associate vice president for public safety.
The new role elevates and connects various aspects of public safety across the university — including the W&M Police Department, Emergency Management, Risk Management and Threat Assessment — to create a more comprehensive approach to the evolving security needs of a modern university campus.
“William & Mary is fortunate indeed that Cliff Everton will be joining our community as AVP for Public Safety,” said Senior Vice President for Student Affairs & Public Safety Ginger Ambler. “He brings an exceptional breadth and depth of experience from his career at NCIS, and our community will also benefit from the years he’s spent developing strong partnerships with regional intelligence and law enforcement agencies. A values-driven executive leader, his professional portfolio reflects his commitment to excellence, integrity, compassion and service to others. I am delighted to welcome him back to his alma mater and to my senior leadership team.”
Following in the William & Mary tradition of public service, Everton has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement, including more than 18 years in leadership at NCIS, the civilian federal law enforcement agency responsible for the Navy and Marine Corps.
As associate vice president for public safety at William & Mary, Everton will function as the senior safety and security official for the university. He will start in the new role on June 10.
“After serving nearly 26 years with NCIS in assignments around the world, I am excited to return to my alma mater and Williamsburg – my hometown,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join Dr. Ginger Ambler’s amazing Student Affairs and Public Safety team and work with dedicated professionals like William & Mary Police Chief Don Butler. I look forward to connecting and collaborating closely with the faculty, staff and students of William & Mary and the local community.”
Comprehensive collaboration
At William & Mary, Everton will develop, plan, implement and lead a comprehensive public safety organization that works in tandem with other public safety groups on campus. He will also join with Student Affairs in campuswide efforts to prevent and respond to student mental health crises, acts of sexual violence and other concerns.
Everton’s other responsibilities will include chairing the Activities & Events Planning and Response Team, updating university leadership on new requirements and trends in safety and security and serving as principal advisor to senior management on policy and program matters related to campus security.
Everton will also strengthen relationships between public safety at William & Mary and on- and off-campus communities. A graduate of the Executive Leaders Program at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School, he discovered his passion for building connections across police, fire and emergency management departments, and he still maintains a strong network of connections throughout Hampton Roads.
These kinds of partnerships are vital to William & Mary’s public safety efforts, according to W&M Police Chief Don Butler.
“Every day, we work with our partners to ensure we’re providing the highest standard of community policing to keep William & Mary safe,” said Butler. “Cliff Everton brings a proven and extensive track record that will continue that mission for years to come. His dedication to his work speaks for itself.”
A life of public service
Everton graduated from William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in government and earned a Master of Arts in security management from Webster University in 1999 before joining NCIS. He went on to serve in various journeyman and leadership positions for the agency, eventually being promoted to assistant director of Atlantic operations before assuming his latest role in 2022.
Currently, he is responsible for ensuring training and certification of Threat Management Representatives at field offices while also managing, planning and executing an annual operational budget of $125 million.
He manages nearly 1,000 special agents, analysts, investigators and support personnel assigned to offices across five continents. He also provides values-based leadership and mentorship for agents covering investigations related to violent and sexual crimes.
Throughout his career, Everton has championed innovation, serving as a co-chair of the executive technology working group for NCIS. The group regularly tests and evaluates products that can further enhance mission success, including artificial intelligence and machine learning technology.
He has also been instrumental in educational efforts for the agency, developing campaigns focused on insider threat and sexual assault awareness, reaching over 900,000 active duty sailors, civilians and family members, with the target audience largely the age of undergraduate students.
In addition, he has served as a leader in the agency’s mental health and wellness efforts. He was selected to be the executive sponsor for an initiative that resulted in the creation of the agency’s Office of Organizational Culture and Employee Wellness. He directed a proactive suicide intervention program across all his field offices, and the program has led to dozens of interventions annually.
Everton has also coordinated security operations for major events including Army/Navy football games and New York City Fleet Week, in addition to other public events at Navy and Marine Corps installations.
Everton will use all of his experience, plus his time mentoring cybersecurity students at Old Dominion University, in his new role at William & Mary, which he calls “a tremendous honor.”
“I never imagined my journey would lead me back to William & Mary so many years after graduating,” Everton said. “Yet, I can think of no higher purpose than working every day to ensure the safety and security of all who teach, learn, live and work together at William & Mary. I can’t wait to get started. Go, Tribe!”
