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“I will continue to serve HALO’s mission to protect lives and restore the livelihoods of those affected by conflict. I aim to support the goal to transform all mine-impacted countries to mine-impact free and rid the world of deadly debris of war forever.”

Jesse Hamlin’s path to becoming a renowned GIS (Geographic Information Systems) professional with The HALO (Hazardous Area Life-support Organization) Trust, a humanitarian organization dedicated to clearing landmines and other explosives, was fueled by a passion, a purpose, and commitment to meaningful work. Hamlin ’14 developed his expertise in GIS with an eye on making a real-world impact, and that journey, which began at University of Redlands, led him to a fulfilling role in humanitarian assistance.

A STRATEGIC START IN GIS

Hamlin’s interest in geography was piqued during his undergraduate studies at the University of Calgary in his homeland of Canada. One course in geography and he “instantly fell in love with it.” To marry that passion with purpose, Hamlin decided to specialize in GIS, a field that combines the analytical side of geography with cutting-edge technology.

“I knew technology was a good field that would always be in demand,” Hamlin said. “It’s the world we live in,” he said, referring to our ever-increasing dependence on spatial data. 

To deepen his expertise, Hamlin chose to study at what he said is the “best GIS school in the world,” — University of Redlands. He was drawn by U of R’s prestigious program and its close relationship with Esri, a global leader in GIS technology. While earning his MSGIS degree, Hamlin said he enjoyed the unique access to Esri’s resources and staff which gave him an invaluable mix of theoretical and hands-on learning, preparing him for the challenges of his future career.

HANDS-ON PROJECTS LEAD TO A MISSION

During his time at Redlands, Hamlin undertook a major individual project (MIP) for the Sierra Nevada Corporation, focusing on Oil & Gas infrastructure security in Africa. The project, which assessed the risk and vulnerability of terrorist attacks using GIS, provided him with a practical understanding of risk assessment and vulnerability analysis.

“This helped prepare me for the international conflict management work that I would do for HALO in the future.” Hamlin’s journey to HALO began serendipitously at the 2014 Esri UC (User Conference), where he presented his MIP. There, he was introduced to HALO by one of his Redlands professors, Mark Kumler. After an interview with HALO’s representative, Hamlin officially joined the organization in 2014, setting out on a mission-driven career where he could put his skills to use in humanitarian work.

FINDING HIS CALLING

For Hamlin, working with HALO wasn’t just a career move—it was a calling. He wanted to make a lasting impact, helping some of the world’s most vulnerable populations rebuild their lives. Through HALO, Hamlin has been able to fulfill that vision, aiding people affected by conflict and landmines with the power of GIS technology.

“I don’t want to be one of these people that realizes late in life, when it’s too late, that I failed to make a positive difference and chased a high salary at the expense of everything else,” Hamlin said. “Being with HALO the last 10 years, I can confidently look back and say when I retire that I helped some of the most vulnerable and forgotten people in the world get back on their feet, minimized my environmental impact, and was a true humanitarian.”

TRANSFORMING HALO’S OPERATIONS WITH GIS

Hamlin’s work has been instrumental in transforming HALO’s operational capabilities. When HALO first began its work in Afghanistan in 1988, teams relied on paper maps and minimal data to navigate minefields.

“There was no GPS, no tablets, and no GIS mapping software. We had paper forms and not-to-scale sketch drawings of the minefields, and if we were lucky, we had an Excel spreadsheet with some poorly structured data on it,” Hamlin said. “Now we have got the full ArcGIS Enterprise suite with enterprise-level database, Web GIS and robust data-collection tools.”

Thanks to Hamlin and his GIS team, HALO now operates in more than 30 countries with these sophisticated digital tools, using ArcGIS Enterprise software to collect, standardize, and analyze crucial data in real time. Hamlin’s contributions have allowed HALO to save countless lives by making data-driven, life-saving decisions in the field.

REWARDS COME WITH CHALLENGES

Working in landmine-affected regions is not without its challenges, from limited infrastructure to security concerns.

“These countries either have an existing conflict or are reeling from a previous one. The critical infrastructure is often destroyed, and internet can be very poor which is important for running Web GIS,” Hamlin said.

“There are often insufficient numbers of people with the right training in the country. There can be corruption in the country and people can be internally displaced and struggling to find places to live and feed themselves. It’s not an easy working environment,” he said. 

Despite these challenges, and often being away from family for extended periods of time, Hamlin finds immense satisfaction in his work, knowing that he is making a real difference prioritizing the mission of helping communities reclaim their land and lives. Hamlin said the challenges make it “even more satisfying when we can make a difference through landmine clearance. I find that you can impact a lot more people in a positive way in landmine-affected countries because there are so many in need.”

A LANDMINE-FREE FUTURE

The Anti-Personnel Landmine Ban, also known as the Ottawa Treaty, was signed just months after Princess Diana’s death in August 1997. Her visit to The HALO Trust in Angola in January 1997 had catapulted the issue into global consciousness and made it impossible to ignore the humanitarian catastrophe that landmines cause to men, women and children around the world. The signing of the Treaty created a sense of genuine optimism of living in a landmine-free world by 2025. Hamlin remains committed ridding the world of landmines, although Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 puts the goal of “Landmine-Free 2025,” established in 2017, out of reach. Though challenges like increased conflict and funding gaps persist, Hamlin remains determined to continue leveraging GIS to support HALO’s efforts, helping communities around the world move towards a safer, landmine-free future. Hamlin’s journey from academia to humanitarian work is a powerful example of how technical expertise can be combined with purpose-driven service. As he continues his work with HALO, he embodies the social impact that GIS technology can have—not just in mapping data, but in transforming lives around the globe.

“I will continue to serve HALO’s mission to protect lives and restore the livelihoods of those affected by conflict. I aim to support the goal to transform all mine-impacted countries to mine-impact free and rid the world of deadly debris of war forever,” Hamlin said. “Through the use of innovative GIS solutions in mine action, there is hope that one day, that day, will come.”

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