Rather than promoting from within, NCIS could take a very different approach following Leon Vance’s death by introducing a completely new character as director.
The series has done this before, with previous leaders arriving with personal ties to existing team members — including Jenny Shepard’s history with Gibbs and Vance’s own connection to the agency.
A new director could appear as either a trusted ally helping the team rebuild or a mysterious outsider whose agenda isn’t immediately clear, adding fresh tension to Season 23’s storyline.