Team And Field Support

Founder · Global Rescue Operations · Executive Leadership

Jon Barocas serves as Executive Director of K9 Global Rescue. A former combat veteran, he began rescuing dogs in 1994 in Thailand and Cambodia alongside a group of military veterans and formally established K9 Global Rescue in 2017 after decades of animal rescue and advocacy work.

For more than 30 years, Jon has worked throughout Asia advocating for an end to the dog and cat meat trade and supporting efforts to close slaughterhouses and dog meat farms. His work has also included animal rescue, field coordination, and partner support across multiple regions.

When the war in Ukraine began, Jon directed K9 Global Rescue toward animal welfare needs connected to the conflict. The organization has supported rescue and humanitarian aid efforts through veterinary supplies, frontline support, and work with rescue organizations, shelters, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Operations · Field Planning · Logistics · Veteran & Disaster Response Support

Daniel Holz is a former U.S. Marine Corps Captain with six years of service and experience in aviation support, operational planning, logistics, and leadership. His background includes assignments with Marine Aviation Support Group 21, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39, HMLA-469 Vengeance, and HMLA-367 Scarface.

Daniel completed a deployment to Japan and the South China Sea and served as a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with more than 200 flight hours. He has also volunteered with Team Rubicon, supporting humanitarian relief, disaster response, and community rebuilding efforts.

At K9 Global Rescue, Daniel focuses on operations, field planning, logistics, mission coordination, and the development of practical support systems for teams working in complex and rapidly changing environments.

Development · Organizational Leadership · Partner Support

Geoffrey Thayer was born and raised in the northeast United States and has had rescue animals in his life for as long as he can remember. After college, he volunteered at a therapeutic equestrian center, where he saw the connection between people and animals firsthand.

Geoffrey has worked in software development, corporate finance, data analysis, and advisement. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Assumption College and is in the final year of a PhD in Organizational Leadership.

Since 2017, Geoffrey has served as a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist and division-level vice commander, overseeing approximately 200 Auxiliarists across missions that include boating safety, search and rescue, and vessel inspections. He has attended the Leadership and Development Academy at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy twice and lives with his family, including two rescue dogs and two rescue cats.

Creative Direction · Events · Volunteer & Community Support

Christina Irinco is a Los Angeles native with a background spanning events, finance, and graphic design. Her professional experience includes nonprofit, entertainment, higher education, and military-base environments.

Christina's volunteer background includes Much Love Animal Rescue Society, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and Team Rubicon, where she has served as a leadership team membership coordinator and sawyer/chainsaw operator.

Christina supports K9GR with visual communication, organization, and creative execution grounded in practical service.

Adoption Coordination · Process Support · Rescue Placement

Pam Callan is a CPA with a master's degree in business and recently retired after more than 40 years as a senior officer for an investment advisory firm. She brings deep experience in finance, organization, documentation, communication, and process management.

Pam has volunteered with two dog rescues, coordinating adoption events, home visits, and flight transports for dogs moving from kill shelters to forever homes. She lives in Colorado with her husband and a household of rescue animals, including two dogs, a quarter horse, and a cat.

Her broader volunteer work includes ocean cleanup projects and education efforts related to captive and endangered marine animals. Pam supports adoption coordination and helps interested adopters navigate the process as rescued dogs move toward permanent homes.

Photojournalism · Field Documentation · Ground Operations Support

Brian Rutter supports K9 Global Rescue through photography, field documentation, and visual storytelling. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Brian joined K9GR in 2022 to help document rescue and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

His background as a documentary photographer and freelance war photographer brings field experience to the organization's documentation and support work.

EU Foundation Setup · Polish Legal Guidance · Organizational Counsel

Rafał Sikora has been instrumental in setting up the K9GR EU Polish Foundation, advising and guiding the organization through the complicated Polish government structure.

He is a well-known and highly regarded attorney. Along with his wife and two daughters, Rafał adopted Izzy, who K9GR saved from Izium, Ukraine.