Cole graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice.
[1] Cole served as a Blue and Gold Officer for the United States Naval Academy.
He held positions including Chief of Staff and Executive Officer for the DEA Chief of Global Operations, at the DEA/Department of Justice Special Operations Division, as the DEA representative to the National Security Council, and as assistant regional director in Mexico City.
[1][2] He retired in 2020, while holding the title of acting regional director of Mexico, Canada and Central America.
[1] After Cole's service with the DEA, he worked in the private sector, being the senior vice president for Aperia Solutions.