Human Trafficking
20th Century Historical Roots & The Importance of Credible Research
In this episode, we’re diving a little deeper into the law enforcement, history, and research perspectives on human trafficking with our guest who has spent many years studying, educating domestically & internationally, and combating and preventing human trafficking through involvement within multidisciplinary teams and trauma-informed approaches. Recently, our guest has received the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in combating human trafficking internationally.
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Referenced Resources
More information about Dr. Douglas Gilmer
What is Resolved Strategies LLC?
Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking
Dr. Gilmer receives William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award
Follow Dr. Gilmer’s work on LinkedIn
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Book Recommendations
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Unbound: Working Together To Restore Lives And End Human Trafficking by Susan Peters
The White Devil's Daughters: The Women Who Fought Slavery in San Francisco's Chinatown by Julia Flynn Siler
Collaborating against Human Trafficking: Cross-Sector Challenges and Practices by Kirsten Foot
I'm Not Broken: A Memoir by Jesse Leon
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Resources
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text "HELP" to 233733
"Part of this effort, especially at the community level, is changing the way the community perceives this issue (...) You have to spend time educating the community because only part of it is about law enforcement operations. You really have to begin with education and get buy-in from the community in order to really make this an effective effort."
- Dr. Douglas Gilmer
Dr. Douglas Gilmer
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Doug Gilmer, PhD., is a 35+ year law enforcement veteran, a retired senior military leader, a Ph.D, researcher, global consultant, trainer, author, and speaker, on matters related to exploitative crime, such as human trafficking and child exploitation; national security; immigration; leadership; effective collaboration; and the intersection of faith, culture, and justice.
He spent his federal law enforcement career as a Special Agent, supervisor, manager, and in senior leadership roles influencing national strategy and policy in human trafficking operations; victim identification; victim protection; building collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to better counter human trafficking nationally; as well as leading immigration policy development ; national security and counterterrorism; strategy and operations globally. He has led teams comprised of 5 people up to 5000.
In addition to his undergraduate education, Doug holds two Masters degrees and a PhD, each focused in areas revolving around global justice solutions.
Dr. Gilmer is the recipient of numerous military commendations, the first ever DHS Secretary's Award for Victim Protection in Human Trafficking, a National Intelligence Medal for Intelligence Integration from the Director of National Intelligence, and in 2025 received the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2023, based on his experience in leading human trafficking investigations, victim protection outcomes, and research in this field, Doug was selected to Chair the Interagency Policy Working on Victim Identification and Screening, tasked by Congress to write a national, federal law enforcement protocol on victim centered and trauma informed approaches to human trafficking investigations.