Our Story
About Vanguard Digital Forensics
A certified digital forensics practice dedicated to independent, objective analysis — and to helping attorneys and juries understand what the evidence actually says.
About the Founder
Meet David Thompson
David Thompson
Founder & Principal Examiner
David Thompson brings 27 years of law enforcement experience to every forensic examination he conducts. He retired from a major metropolitan sheriff's office at the rank of Detective Sergeant, where he spent the final years of his career overseeing the agency's digital forensics lab and leading the violent crimes unit — two of the most demanding and consequential assignments in any law enforcement organization.
In that role, David was responsible for setting the forensic examination standards his agency used to investigate and prosecute serious crimes. He managed examiners, reviewed reports, reviewed search warrants, and ensured methodology held up in court. He has seen forensic evidence from both sides — and he knows exactly what rigorous, defensible analysis looks like, and when it falls short.
After retiring from law enforcement, David went to work for a well known digital forensics company in Oregon. There he mainly worked on public defence cases in Oregon and many from around the country. After Four years, David decided to found Vanguard Digital Forensics. His motivation is straightforward: the prosecution has access to well-funded, well-equipped forensic resources. Defense attorneys and their clients deserve the same quality of analysis — regardless of budget.
What makes David's perspective uniquely valuable to defense counsel is that he has been on the other side. He understands how law enforcement forensic examinations are conducted, where the procedures can break down, If law enforcement followed the strict rules they must follow under Oregon legal precedent, where documentation is sometimes incomplete, and where conclusions can misdirect what the evidence actually supports. He applies that institutional knowledge to scrutinize prosecution forensics with precision — identifying methodology gaps, chain-of-custody issues, and legal overreach that other examiners might miss.
David is based in Portland, Oregon and serves defense attorneys throughout the state and nationwide. He accepts Oregon Public Defense Commission rates because access to qualified forensic expertise should not depend on the size of a client's resources.
Our Mission
Evidence Should Tell the Truth — Not a Story
Vanguard Digital Forensics was founded on a simple principle: digital evidence deserves the same rigorous, objective scrutiny as any other form of physical evidence. Too often, forensic reports are written to support a predetermined conclusion rather than to accurately document what the data shows.
We work with attorneys to provide independent analysis — examining the same evidence the prosecution relies on, identifying what it proves, what it doesn't prove, and where the methodology falls short.
Our goal is always the same: to give your client the fair examination their case deserves.
Qualifications
Certifications & Training
Our certifications and specialized training ensure that every examination is conducted using industry-standard, court-accepted methodology.
How We Work
Our Examination Process
Every engagement follows a documented, court-defensible process. Chain of custody is maintained at every step, and all findings are documented in a way that can withstand scrutiny at any stage of litigation.
Initial Consultation
We review your case overview and the digital evidence at issue. This free call helps us understand the scope, recommend the right approach, and answer your preliminary questions.
Secure Evidence Intake
Devices and evidence files are received and logged with documented chain of custody. We photograph, hash-verify, and catalog all items before any examination begins.
Forensic Examination
Using certified tools, we perform a thorough, documented examination. Every action is logged so our process is fully reproducible and auditable.
Report Delivery
If requested, you receive a clear, attorney-friendly report summarizing the methodology, findings, and conclusions. We're available to walk you through the report and answer questions.
Deposition & Trial Support
We prepare with you for deposition and provide expert witness testimony at trial. Our goal is to make complex digital evidence understandable — and to hold up under cross-examination.