FOUNDERS STORY
Burke Bryant founded HARP Rescue in 2016 after witnessing the unimaginable atrocities in South Sudan. As he observed the conflict unfold, he saw that most NGOs waited for the wars to subside before stepping in to offer aid. Bryant realized that the most critical time for help was not after the violence had passed, but in the midst of it—when lives were hanging by a thread and immediate action could save countless more. Driven by this urgency, he launched HARP Rescue with the mission to provide life-saving support when it was needed the most.​
Initially, HARP focused on delivering aid to organizations on the frontlines, such as Doctors Without Borders. But as Bryant’s vision grew clearer, HARP evolved into a specialized rescue organization, honing its expertise in high-risk extractions—a reputation it continues to uphold to this day. Since its inception, HARP’s operators have worked in some of the most devastating wars and disasters in history, from earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and tornadoes, to liquefaction, fires, and conflicts around the world. Their efforts have resulted in over 17,000 lives saved globally.
HARP Rescue has earned recognition and commendation from government authorities at the federal, state, and local levels worldwide for its exceptional contributions in the field of high-risk extraction.
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In 2020, Burke Bryant expanded HARP's mission to include the fight against human trafficking, focusing on the rescue of women and children. Through relentless effort and determination, HARP has been instrumental in dismantling several underground trafficking networks, shutting down tunnels that were used to smuggle not only women and children but also deadly substances like fentanyl. This expansion marked a pivotal moment in HARP's commitment to saving lives and combating some of the most heinous crimes in the world.
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Bryant has remained committed to keeping HARP small, highly specialized, and focused on its core mission. The team consists of elite operators with diverse backgrounds, from military special operations and field surgeons to EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, and former government personnel—each one dedicated to the singular purpose of saving lives.
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HARP’s heroic work has been featured on major networks like Fox News, CNN, Newsmax, ABC, NBC, and NPR. The organization has received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for two consecutive years, as well as honors from the military and police forces of Ukraine for its work during the ongoing Ukrainian War.
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HARP Rescue’s impact speaks volumes, but it is the dedication of its specialized operators—driven by a deep commitment to those in need—that truly defines the heart and soul of this extraordinary organization.
"HARP's mission is, and always will be, to save as many lives as possible."