Combat Vets Transition to HSI HERO’s Battling Child Exploitation (Videos)

They fought on a foreign battlefield to protect our nation. Now an elite corps of warriors is stepping onto the most important battlefield of their lives: hunting child predators and rescuing children in danger.

Twelve military veterans graduated from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps program during a ceremony at ICE Headquarters on Friday.

12 military veterans graduated from the HSI HERO Child Rescue Corps program during a ceremony at ICE Headquarters last week. (Courtesy of ICE)
12 military veterans graduated from the HSI HERO Child Rescue Corps program during a ceremony at ICE Headquarters last week. (Courtesy of ICE)

U.S. Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marine Corps veterans from Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Florida, South Carolina, and Ohio, made up the new class.

The HERO Corps program recruits and trains wounded, ill, or injured active-duty service members, transitioning active-duty service members, and military veterans to support law enforcement in the areas of child exploitation investigations, child victim identification, traveling child sex offenders, and digital forensics for employment.

(ICE salutes our veterans who continue their service to our nation by working for us. At ICE, we support our veterans in many ways, including ICE HERO Corps, which began three years ago and gives our nation’s wounded warriors a second chance to be a hero. Courtesy of ICE.gov and YouTube.)

This program is a one-year internship, which is made up of a three-month initial training followed by a nine-month hands-on training in ICE field offices nationwide.

“The HERO Corps program showcases the critical cooperation between HSI, PROTECT, and U.S. Special Operations Command to combat child sexual exploitation,” said Alysa D. Erichs, ICE Acting Executive Associate Director for HSI.

Alysa D. Erichs
Alysa D. Erichs

“There are few people better qualified to safeguard our nation’s youth than American veterans.”

“We are grateful and blessed to have these exceptional individuals join HSI to help execute one of the most important missions; the pursuit and arrest of child predators and the rescue of victims of these terrible acts,” Erichs emphasized.

Friday’s twelve HSI HERO graduates represent the tenth graduating class of this program.

Each of them have successfully completed the initial three-month training in computer forensics and law enforcement support, and will now transition to ICE field offices across the nation to begin their hands-on experience, with duties which include:

  • Image and process digital media

  • Forensic analysis

  • Assist investigators to identify high-value targets

  • Prepare detailed reports for prosecutions, and

  • Locate child victims

12 military veterans graduated from the HSI HERO Child Rescue Corps program during a ceremony at ICE Headquarters last week. (Courtesy of ICE)
12 military veterans graduated from the HSI HERO Child Rescue Corps program during a ceremony at ICE Headquarters last week. (Courtesy of ICE)

“Investigating child sexual exploitation is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding missions [one] can undertake for this agency,” Erichs told the HERO graduates and their supporters.

“Make no mistake – you are joining a team here at HSI that is working around-the-clock to rescue innocence and bring evil to justice.”

On average, HSI arrests seven child predators and processes 17 terabytes of data every day.

Since 2003, HSI has initiated more than 40,000 cases globally, arrested more than 15,000 child predators, and identified and recued more than 5,000 child victims.

(Learn More. The HERO Corps program was developed jointly by ICE HSI, the Department of Defense and the National Association to Protect Children.

Erichs told attendees that even one child victim is one too many.

“Unfortunately, crimes against children occur every hour of every day,” she added.

“Innocent children who deserve a happy home and safe community in which to simply be a kid, are victimized and have their lives forever changed.”

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), HERO Child-Rescue Corps Honored in 2016 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program

  • ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’

  • HERO

  • Child-Rescue Corps

  • ICE HSI was also recognized in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU) Honored in 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards

2018 ASTORS Platinum

  • ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’

  • Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU)

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.

William "Bill" Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), the Boston Police Department (BPD) and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), will speak at the 2019 'ASTORS' Homeland Security Awards Luncheon at ISC East 2019, on Wednesday, November 20th, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center (Courtesy of Teneo Risk)
Bill Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), the Boston Police Department (BPD) and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), will speak at the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Luncheon at ISC East 2019, on Wednesday, November 20th, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center (Courtesy of Teneo Risk)

The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program drew an overwhelming response from industry leaders with a record high number of corporate and government nominations received, as well as record breaking ‘ASTORS’ Presentation Luncheon Attendees, with top firms trying to register for the exclusive high – end luncheon and networking opportunity – right up to the event kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, at the ISC East registration!

Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:

2018 ASTORS

  • The Department of Homeland Security
  • The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • The Department of Homeland Security
  • The Department of Justice
  • The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

Proud Sponsors of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program include ATI SystemsAttivo NetworksAutomatic Systems, and Desktop Alert.

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Access Control/ Identification Personal/Protective Equipment Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism
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Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

Why the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?

2018 'ASTORS' Homeland Security Awards Presentation Luncheon
2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Presentation Luncheon

Enter Early to Maximize Media Coverage of your Products and Services at Kickoff, and Get the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!

Carolyn Crandall, Chief Deception Officer and CMO, of Attivo Networks, was recognized for the company's groundbreaking cyber technology innovations in the 2018 'ASTORS' Homeland Security Awards Program with record Seven Award Recognitions and a coveted 2018 'Extraordinary Leadership Award.'
Carolyn Crandall, Chief Deception Officer and CMO, of Attivo Networks, was recognized for the company’s groundbreaking cyber technology innovations in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program with record Seven Award Recognitions and a coveted 2018 ‘Extraordinary Leadership Award.’

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’

David Enderle, President of Automatic Systems America, accepting a coveted 2018 'ASTORS' Extraordinary Leadership Award at ISC East.
David Enderle, VP of Sales at Automatic Systems, accepting a desirable 2018 ‘Extraordinary Leadership Award at ISC East for the company’s pedestrian, vehicle and passenger entry control solutions

Acknowledge the Most Distinguished Vendors of Physical, IT, Cyber, Port of Entry Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Perimeter Protection, Communications as well as Federal, State, County and Municipal Government Agencies in Acknowledgment of Their Outstanding Efforts to: ‘Keep our Nation Safe – One City at a Time.’

Please see our 2019 List of Categories which include a broad spectrum of opportunities for your organization to compete – and whether you represent a Homeland Physical Security Vendor, a Technology Security Vendor, or a Federal, State or Municipal Agency, we urge you to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to Compete and Distinguish Your Achievements from your competitors.

Time is Running Out to Enter the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards and Receive the Recognition your Organization Deserves at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

(Learn More about the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program from Mike Madsen, Publisher, during an impromptu interview following the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony at ISC East, on November 14th, 2018. Courtesy of AST and YouTube.)

2018 Government Excellence Award Winners in the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

The following Government Agencies were recognized in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards:

(Learn About the DARPA Subterranean Challenge working with multidisciplinary teams from around the world to compete in the development of the autonomy, perception, networking, and mobility technologies necessary to map explore and search underground networks in unpredictable conditions. Courtesy of DARPAtv and YouTube.)

(The Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) is a gps communications tool that runs on a mobile device. It improves situational awareness by allowing users to know where their mission partners are located, regardless of affiliation, improves communications through a variety of applications and was successfully used in 2017 Hurricane operations in Houston and Puerto Rico. Courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)

(DHS S&T’s Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment (EDGE) virtual training platform provides a safe, immersive environment where first responders, and now educators, can hone their skills and prepare for a multitude of incident responses. Built on the same video gaming platforms as popular titles like Fortnite, EDGE was intentionally designed to be easily accessed, easily used, and easily integrated into agencies’ existing training protocols. Courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)

(Learn About the FBI VCAC Program, and hear from Special Agent Danielle Messineo, who works in the Crimes Against Children division, trying to prevent future victims by giving presentations to schoolchildren. Courtesy of USA Network and YouTube.)

(Learn About the Joint Interagency Task Force South on Key West, Florida, a multi-agency, international alliance whose mission is to cover 42 million square miles of territory primarily in Central and South America to stem the flow of illegal drugs and to disrupt and dismantle sophisticated narco-trafficking networks. Much of that work is carried out on the high seas. Courtesy of Doug Brumbaugh and YouTube.)

(U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operates the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU) within the National Security Investigations Division (NSID). Preceded by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, HSI has more than 30 years of experience in successfully investigating human rights violators. The unit conducts investigations focused on human rights violations in an effort to prevent the United States from becoming a safe haven to those individuals who engage in the commission of war crimes, genocide, torture and other forms of serious human rights abuses from conflicts around the globe. When foreign war crimes suspects, persecutors and human rights abusers are identified within U.S. borders, the unit utilizes its powers and authorities to the fullest extent of the law to investigate, prosecute and, whenever possible, remove any such offenders from the United States. Courtesy of ICE and YouTube.)

Individuals Recognized for ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’ in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program are as follows:

  • Edward Reinhold, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI (Ret)

  • Joel McNellyCharlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

  • Matt QuillenBristol Virginia Police Department

  • Stanley I. WhiteCounterintelligence Advisor, the International Association for Counterrorism & Security Professionals (IACSP)

  • Thomas HomanActing Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (Ret)

  • Thomas O’ConnorPresident of the FBI Agents Association

2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program Industry Experts Include

Ameristar Perimeter SecurityATI Systems (Acoustic Technology Inc.), Attivo NetworksBriefCamCanon U.S.A., Entrust Datacard, FLIR SystemsHanwha TechwinHID Global,

ISS – Intelligent Security Systems, IvantiKonica Minolta Business SolutionsMilestone SystemsLenel, LRAD CorporationMilestone Systems,

Orolia, NICE, Pivot3Rave Mobile SafetyRoyal HoldingsSenstar CorporationSmiths DetectionSolarWindsVerintViasatand More!

For a complete list of award winners, click here.

2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon

AST focuses on New and Evolving Security Threats at All Levels of Homeland Security and Public Safety for personnel who are on the front lines of protecting our communities, cities and nation.
AST focuses on New and Evolving Security Threats at All Levels of Homeland Security and Public Safety for personnel who are on the front lines of protecting our communities, cities and nation.

AST focuses on New and Evolving Security Threats at All Levels of Homeland Security and Public Safety for personnel who are on the front lines of protecting our communities, cities and nation.The highlight of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program will be the Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East at the Javits Convention Center on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

AST reaches both the private and public experts, essential to meeting today’s growing security challenges.

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For Luncheon Sponsorship Opportunities and More, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com or call 732.233.8119 (mobile) or 646-450-6027 (office).

Proud Sponsors of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program include ATI SystemsAttivo NetworksAutomatic Systems, and Desktop Alert.

2018 'ASTORS' Homeland Security Awards Presentation Luncheon
2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Presentation Luncheon

Be sure to Register Early for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East 2019 to ensure your place at this limited- space event!

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