The Air Force Office of Special Investigations was established in 1949 as a separate operating agency under the staff supervision of the Inspector General. AFOSI is the primary U.S. Air Force investigative agency for major crimes.
The scope of AFOSI’s mission has evolved significantly. Today, the AFOSI mission includes such diverse investigative areas as criminal investigations, counterespionage, counterintelligence, anti-terrorism, technical and forensic support, fraud and environmental crimes, and protective services operations. AFOSI Det. 217 falls under the operational control of its headquarters at Andrews AFB, Maryland, and is tasked with the responsibility of providing the full range of AFOSI investigative support to the 355th FW, Headquarters 12th Air Force, and other Air Force and DOD entities/activities.