Term used by the CIA for case officers who operate overseas outside the usual diplomatic cover. Most case officers work out of U.S. embassies, protected by a diplomatic cover. An individual caught working as an intelligence officer is usually declared persona non grata (referred to as "being PNG'd") and ordered to leave the host country. NOCs do not have that privilege, and so their work can be more dangerous.
When Robert M. Gates was Director of Central Intelligence, he increased the number of NOCs, despite fears that this would place an added personnel and financial burden on the CIA. NOCs are denied the protection and the secure communications of an embassy. They work under a cover that is usually a legitimate or seemingly legitimate business.
NOCs usually operate outside of the U.S. country team, the U.S. personnel in a country, including CIA officers, who are under the authority of the U.S. ambassador. NOCs may be involved in clandestine activities that are unknown to the ambassador.
