At the National Child Protection Task Force, our mission has never been about a single organization. It has always been about people.
The investigators answering late-night calls.
The volunteers reviewing leads after long workdays.
The advocates helping children feel heard.
The law enforcement leaders willing to rethink traditional systems in pursuit of better outcomes for vulnerable kids.
This work moves forward because extraordinary people choose to step into difficult spaces with urgency, compassion, and collaboration.
In 2025, NCPTF assisted on 361 child-focused cases nationwide—including 100 children located through Missing Child Rescue Operations. Behind every one of those outcomes are professionals and volunteers who refuse to look away when children need help most.
This year, we are proud to recognize several individuals and partners whose dedication continues to strengthen communities, support investigations, and help protect vulnerable children nationwide.
👑 Volunteer of the Year | Marie Davison
NCPTF is honored to recognize Marie Davison as our 2025 Volunteer of the Year.
Marie joined NCPTF as a volunteer OSINT Analyst and quickly became an invaluable part of our investigations team. Her analytical skillset, attention to detail, and commitment to helping missing children has supported law enforcement efforts across both day-to-day case assistance and Missing Child Rescue Operations.
What makes Marie especially remarkable is not just her talent—it’s her willingness to consistently give her time, energy, and expertise in service of children she may never meet.
The reality is that organizations like NCPTF are powered by people like Marie: individuals who quietly step up because they believe vulnerable children deserve more people searching for them.
We are profoundly grateful for the impact she continues to make nationwide.
🚔 Law Enforcement Partner | Detective Ryan Ellis
Clay County Sheriff’s Office & INTERCEPT Task Force
The National Child Protection Task Force is honored to recognize Detective Ryan Ellis as our 2025 Law Enforcement Partner of the Year.
Ryan has become a trusted and deeply valued partner through his leadership, responsiveness, and unwavering commitment to missing and endangered children. During the 2025 Northeast Florida Missing Child Rescue Operation, Ryan played a critical role not only in helping locate children, but also in ensuring their voices, needs, and long-term wellbeing remained part of the conversation.
Those who work alongside Ryan consistently describe him as someone who leads with integrity, urgency, and compassion—someone who understands that protecting children requires collaboration, trust, and relentless commitment.
His willingness to build partnerships across agencies and disciplines reflects exactly the kind of leadership communities need when responding to vulnerable children in crisis.
We are deeply grateful for Ryan’s friendship, partnership, and example.
🚔 Law Enforcement Collaboration Award | Virginia State Police Human Trafficking Unit
Hampton Roads, Virginia
NCPTF is proud to recognize the Virginia State Police Human Trafficking Unit for their continued partnership and collaborative leadership in protecting missing and endangered children.
Under the leadership of Sgt. Justin Cowan and Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer Fisher, the unit has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment not only to locating vulnerable children, but also to helping ensure those children are heard, supported, and connected to safer futures.
Their team represents the very best of multidisciplinary collaboration—bringing professionalism, innovation, and compassion into work that carries enormous weight.
At a time when many systems remain fragmented, this partnership reflects what is possible when agencies choose to work together with humility, trust, and a shared commitment to children.
We are grateful to stand alongside this incredible team.
🏆 Honoring the NCPTF Child Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC)
This year also marks an important milestone for NCPTF’s Child Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC)—a group of experienced professionals whose expertise continues to shape and strengthen our mission nationwide.
What began as a vision for collaborative mentorship and shared expertise has grown into one of NCPTF’s greatest strengths: a trusted network of leaders willing to support agencies, investigators, and communities facing some of their most difficult child-focused cases.
Throughout 2025, CPAC members have:
- Provided mentorship and investigative guidance to law enforcement nationwide
- Supported Missing Child Rescue Operations and rapid-response casework
- Helped strengthen trauma-informed approaches for vulnerable children
- Shared expertise across agencies and jurisdictions
- Modeled collaboration, humility, and service in every space they enter
As several NCPTF leaders shared in a recent internal tribute, the strength of CPAC is not only found in the members’ knowledge and experience—but in their willingness to show up for others, often behind the scenes and without recognition.
Their leadership continues to help communities create better outcomes for missing, exploited, and trafficked children nationwide.
Every missing child deserves people willing to search.
Every child deserves adults willing to listen.
And every child deserves communities willing to help.
The individuals and teams recognized here remind us what becomes possible when people choose collaboration over ego, compassion over indifference, and action over silence.
To all of our partners, volunteers, advisors, investigators, advocates, and supporters: Thank you for helping create better outcomes for vulnerable children nationwide.
Because of people like you, more children are being found—and more communities are learning how to better protect them long after the operation ends.
Thank you, World Changers.
