Michael Vance is a United States Army Special Operations officer tasked with counter-terrorism operations, who was formerly Eliot's commanding officer. Between Seasons 4 and 5, he and Eliot infiltrate a foreign missile site as seen in a flashback. Later he works with Eliot, Hardison, and Parker to foil a terror attack on Washington, DC. He is known for putting together unique special joint teams together that usually comprise of multiple intelligence, law enforcement, and Special Forces operatives of which Eliot was a part of for an undisclosed period of time. Because of this, Vance has been under scrutiny by the government for not following protocol or standard operating procedures.