The position of Director of Investigation was established within the Galactic Republic in 22 BBY, a year that marked the commencement of the Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatists. Foga Brill held this position during the conflict, and as director, he oversaw the Republic Judicial Department's Criminal Investigations Office, the Enforcement DataCore, and various other law enforcement agencies.
The Director of Investigation's present canon debut occurred in Rise of the Separatists, a 2019 expansion for Fantasy Flight Games' Star Wars Roleplaying game line. Within the Star Wars Legends timeline, the Director of Investigation originally appeared in "Byss and the Deep Core, Part 3: Prakith," a 2005 online addition penned by Rodney Thompson for the Byss and the Deep Core series created by Wizards of the Coast.