The article contains the first experience of applying the theory of the organization's life cycle to the study of the organizational dynamics of a specific federal state body – the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. The author identifies five stages in its development (autonomy, expansion, implosion, optimization and a new identity). The allocation of each stage is justified by the focus on solving one or more strategically important problems for the development of the organization, the resolution of which takes the organization to a fundamentally new level of development. In relation to the research focus, the following problems are identified: overcoming the "initial threshold of survival" and gaining independence; the struggle for expanding competencies; increasing the necessary diversity of management (development of internal structure); eliminating the ambiguity of management (de-bureaucratization); forming one's own identity. Using this model, the author substantiates the hypothesis that the stages of  each organization’s life cycle may differ from universal models, be inherent only to this organization and reflect the specifics of its development. The article shows that there are often no clear boundaries between these stages, and they can actually overlap each other. Based on the analysis, a forecast of the prospects for the development of the organization has been suggested.