Washington, D.C. – The Office of the Naval Inspector General hosted a comprehensive two-day training course on interview and interrogation techniques on January 12 -13, 2026, hosting over 200 investigative professionals. The course was held in a hybrid format with over 40 participants gathered at the Admiral Gooding Center at the Washington Navy Yard, while an additional 160 joined virtually.
Why would the Office of the Naval Inspector General (NAVINSGEN) need an external interview and interrogation training course?
Investigative careers are honed through the art and science of interviewing and interrogation. Imagine both skills as the pieces on a chess board and the exchange, or interview, is the board itself. Expertly crafted moves are the most dynamic aspect of the investigation process. Like a timed game of chess, windows of opportunity are created, lost or won, in fleeting moments during an interview. Every aspect of the interview – from room layout, to interview questions, to conversational flow and approach – must be carefully thought out and executed. Knowledge of human psychology, sociology, and physiology all intersect in this effort to obtain truthful information from a wide variety of people.
While every investigator develops a degree of interviewing proficiency from conducting investigative interviews, every professional can further develop that proficiency by learning from other investigators. Within Naval IG Enterprise, the field of interview and interrogation is vast and dynamic.
The training provided practical skills applicable to IG investigators, using teaching methodologies grounded in adult learning principles, designed to ensure attendees leave with useful interviewing skills. The course covered a wide spectrum of practices, from basic to advanced interviewing and interrogation techniques.
When asked about the course, Dan Bianco, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Senior Official Investigations said, "Interviewing is the most dynamic part of an investigation – like a timed game of chess; windows of opportunity are won or lost in fleeting moments during these critical conversations. This interview training, provided for more than 200 of our IG professionals, sharpens the skills our investigators need to navigate these complex encounters successfully and with the highest degree of professionalism."