Naomi Grace

One month after Director Vance was kidnapped, Gibbs is assigned the role of acting director in his absence while the team searches worldwide for his whereabouts, on the 16th season premiere.

As NCIS investigates the cause of death of a reservist Navy Seal surgeon, they're forced to bring Vance's daughter, Kayla (Naomi Grace), who recently trained with NCIS, to help with a highly dangerous mission.

One of the NCIS agents is starstruck after the team investigates an explosion outside the home of Navy Petty Officer First Class Todd Nicholas (Cameron Radice) and his wife, popular reality TV star Sheba Nicholas (Tara Holt). Also, Vance continues physical therapy for the injuries sustained when he was held hostage.

After McGee and Torres visit the home of a high schooler who witnessed a hit and run, her parents, Christopher (Jamie Kaler) and Julie Bell (Gabrielle Carteris), flee with their daughter, leaving NCIS in the lurch. Also, Vance's daughter is arrested for shoplifting.

When Ethan is implicated in a serious crime, he and Sutton leave town and hide out with his father, Ben Whitehorse (recurring guest star GIL BIRMINGHAM – The Twilight Saga), on the reservation where he grew up. A burgeoning tension between father and son has Sutton playing mediator, but, despite the awkwardness, she appreciates seeing a side of Ethan that she did not know when they were together. Meanwhile, Emma is left to deal with the aftermath of Ethan's situation when she must pretend to be witness to a scene where she was not present.