Elizabeth Cortland was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, as well as a member of the International Doctor's Group. During a routine treatment of various villagers in the South Sudan village of Togu, the makeshift hospital was ambushed by various soldiers belonging to a militant faction of the Shilluk tribe led by General Ajak Gadet. She then made a SOS call to NCIS Agent Stanley Burley requesting help and giving her location.