Cole Ortiz

Cole Ortiz was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of Frederick and Kathy Ortiz. At 17 years old, Cole graduated high school and went on to the University of New Mexico. Upon graduating from UNM with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, he attended the Basic Reconnaissance Course. Upon completion of the course, Cole was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Cole later attended the Marine Corps Combatant Diver Course and then the Basic Airborne Course at the U.S. Army Airborne School. He served in Force Reconnaissance and received numerous commendations.

Cole left the Marine Corps after six years of service and applied to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Before he could join the Bureau, he had to go through the FBI application and hiring process, which included a physical fitness test, a background investigation, and a medical examination. After successfully completion of the background investigation, Cole went on to attend the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduating from the Academy, he was sworn in as a Special Agent and assigned to the New York Field Office as a member of the Counterterrorism Division.

Two years into his career with the FBI, he attended the Hostage Rescue Team selection course. After completing the New Operators Training School, Cole joined the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team as an assaulter. Eventually, his exemplary work as an HRT operator caught the attention of Brian Hastings, the Special Agent in Charge of the newly re-formed New York Domestic Unit of the Counter Terrorist Unit. Hastings contacted Cole and made an offer of employment with CTU. The Counter Terrorist Unit is a U.S. government agency set up to relieve other American federal agencies of their scattered counter-terrorist programs by consolidating the U.S. civilian anti-terrorist effort into one organization. Although loosely affiliated with the CIA, CTU is an independent agency. Therefore, unlike the CIA, its operational jurisdiction is both foreign and domestic.

Cole accepted the job offer and joined the New York Domestic Unit as the Director of Field Operations. He later began a relationship with senior data analyst, Dana Walsh. Eventually, they became engaged.