Our Rescue Taps HSI Veteran to Lead Cyber War on Child Exploitation

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – March 04, 2026 – In a significant move to bolster its fight against digital-age child exploitation, the global nonprofit Our Rescue has appointed Jim Cole, a decorated 37-year law enforcement veteran, as its new Senior Advisor for Cyber Strategy & Child Protection. The appointment signals a strategic escalation in the organization's efforts to combat the rapidly evolving threats children face online, leveraging Cole’s world-renowned expertise to empower law enforcement partners worldwide.

Cole’s transition from a distinguished government career to the nonprofit sector comes at a critical time. His new role will focus on accelerating the identification of child victims and strengthening the collaborative sinews connecting nonprofits with law enforcement agencies on the front lines. For Our Rescue, an organization with a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, bringing in a figure of Cole's caliber underscores its commitment to a strategy rooted in empowerment, technology, and operational excellence.

A Veteran's New Battleground

Jim Cole is not merely an experienced agent; he is an architect of modern victim identification. During his nearly four-decade tenure in government, culminating as a Supervisory Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Cole pioneered systems that have fundamentally changed how child exploitation cases are investigated. His most notable achievement was founding the HSI Cyber Crimes Center's (C3) first-ever Victim Identification Program and Laboratory. This groundbreaking initiative created the tools and methodologies responsible for the identification and rescue of more than 15,000 children across the globe.

His influence extends far beyond a single agency. Cole co-founded Project VIC, an international initiative that standardized data and forensic methods to help investigators more efficiently process child sexual abuse material and link cases, prioritizing a victim-centric approach. He also chaired the INTERPOL Specialists Group on Crimes Against Children, shaping global strategy and collaboration. His work has made him a leading subject matter expert in digital forensics, victim identification, and the application of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations—skills that are now more crucial than ever.

"Jim has dedicated his career to helping law enforcement find victims faster and care for them more effectively," said Our Rescue CEO Derek Benner in a statement. "He is one of the world's foremost experts in victim identification, and he understands how to turn technology and collaboration into real-world results. His leadership strengthens our ability to support partners with credibility and practical impact."

Fortifying the Digital Front Lines

The landscape Cole is entering is fraught with unprecedented challenges. The digital world has become the primary venue for child exploitation, and the scale of the crisis is staggering. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), its CyberTipline received 20.5 million reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation in 2024. While the total number of reports saw a decrease due to changes in platform reporting, the nature of the threat intensified dramatically.

Reports of online enticement of children surged by an alarming 192%, and those involving generative AI—used to create synthetic abusive material—skyrocketed by 1,325% in just one year. This deluge of data creates immense backlogs for law enforcement agencies, many of which lack the dedicated digital forensics labs and specialized personnel to process evidence in a timely manner. The delay between crime and consequence leaves offenders free and victims in danger.

Cole’s appointment is a direct response to this crisis. His expertise is tailor-made to address these technological threats. "As online child exploitation cases continue to rise, we have to work smarter and faster," noted Bill Walker, SVP of Operations at Our Rescue. "Jim understands what it takes to move investigations forward in complex environments, and his experience will immediately strengthen our operational support to partners."

John Trenary, the organization's VP of Cyber, echoed this sentiment, adding, "From a cyber perspective, Jim created and shaped many of the investigative tools agencies rely on today. His experience and expertise will strengthen how we support technology-driven investigations."

A Strategy of Empowerment and Collaboration

Our Rescue’s operational model is not to replace law enforcement but to act as a force multiplier. The nonprofit provides critical resources—from specialized training and intelligence to advanced forensic software and Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s—that many agencies cannot afford or access. In 2024 alone, the organization supported 148 law enforcement operations, leading to 1,969 arrests and assistance for 1,052 survivors worldwide.

Cole’s role will be pivotal in enhancing and expanding these efforts. He will work to strengthen existing programs like ICAC Connect, which provides rapid forensic support to Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces, and the Interstate Justice Coalition, a multi-agency partnership designed to dismantle trafficking networks across state lines. Having spent his career building bridges between agencies and pioneering collaborative frameworks, Cole is uniquely positioned to deepen these partnerships and ensure they remain agile and responsive to the evolving needs of investigators.

His deep institutional knowledge of law enforcement culture, protocols, and pain points will enable Our Rescue to integrate its support more seamlessly, breaking down barriers and fostering the trust necessary for effective joint operations. This strategy of empowerment has proven effective, building capacity within local and national police forces to handle complex cyber-enabled crimes long-term.

The addition of Jim Cole represents a powerful fusion of top-tier government expertise with the agility and focused mission of a leading nonprofit. It is a strategic investment in the belief that the only way to outpace sophisticated digital predators is through unparalleled collaboration, cutting-edge technology, and the unwavering dedication of experts committed to protecting the most vulnerable.