Copyright 2008 by Crime Lab Report.  All rights reserved.  This report contains opinions expressed by CRIME LAB REPORT, which is an independent organization.  These opinions may not necessarily represent those of our sponsors or other organizations affiliated with CRIME LAB REPORT and its editors.  While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and contextual honesty, all opinions should be corroborated with independent research before being construed as factual.  Crime Lab Report will quickly correct and/or retract any information demonstrated to be erroneous.  We welcome opposing viewpoints and will publish responses from our readers, which may be edited for economy and clarity.

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Talking Forensic Science:
Conversations with leaders, innovators,
and news-makers.

Crime Lab Report is proud to announce a new feature for our readers called "Talking Forensic Science." Periodically, our editors will reach out to people and organizations who are actively shaping the profession of forensic science by influencing laws, trends, and public policies.  While participants are free to answer our questions with little or no interference from our editors, we hope our readers will benefit from the perspectives that they have to offer.

Kevin Lothridge
Executive Director of NFSTC

In this first installment of our "Talking Forensic Science" series, Crime Lab Report interviewed Kevin Lothridge who is the Executive Director of the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) in Largo, Florida.  NFSTC has been a major player in the profession of forensic science since for more than a decade, and as a former president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, Kevin Lothridge has a unique perspective on the day's events.

We also wanted to give Kevin an opportunity to comment on what many of our readers have felt was Crime Lab Report's most controversial editorial, "Low-Bid Accreditation will Doom Forensic Science," which discussed NFSTC's role in the creation of FQS.  While Kevin's answer was brief and to the point, we felt this interview was a good opportunity to ask him about it.

We thank Kevin for sharing his time with us, and hope our readers will enjoy learning more about NFSTC how it is shaping forensic science.

CLR: Kevin, can you briefly tell our readers about NFSTC and what your role is with this organization? 

KL: The National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) is a not for profit corporation.  We've been around for about 13 years and our mission has remained virtually unchanged.  We're dedicated to supporting the justice community and ensuring the public safety by assisting the forensic sciences in the achievement of the highest level of quality services.  We have always collaborated with the forensic community to assess their needs, communicate our findings, and work closely with the justice community to provide essential goods and services delivered at no-cost to those stakeholders.

NFSTC is headquartered in Largo, Florida and was founded in 1995 by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD).  In 2000 we were awarded funding through a Cooperative Agreement with the Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Since that time, our funding has continued through competitive awards and support from the NIJ and other Federal agencies.

I serve as NFSTC's Chief Executive Officer, so I routinely interface with NFSTC's stakeholders and provide guidance to our internal project leaders and teams.  We have just under 30 full-time staff members and over 140 consultants, so we might be considered a small organization; however, our program-reach covers a broad spectrum. Our work positively impacts members of the forensic and justice communities across numerous forensic disciplines throughout the United States.  This is done through quality assurance, training, technical assistance, and community outreach. 

CLR:  What are NFSTC's major sources of funding? 

KL: We compete for awards that will allow us to deliver specific programs.  Applications are submitted to federal agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Your readers can view our programs at http://www.nfstc.org/programs/index.htm if they wish.

CLR:  How do you think NFSTC has improved the effectiveness of forensic scientists in the United States? 

KL: Over the years, we've become leaders in providing quality forensic services to the justice community, including public crime laboratories, medical examiners, law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, and other professional forensic science organizations. 

For example, our External DNA Audit program was started in 2002 and was expanded in 2005 by the NIJ to include Grant Progress Assessments, which assist the NIJ in its oversight of grant recipients. The Audit/Assessment program is actually the longest running and most well known of our programs.  DNA audits help laboratories improve their analytical systems, thereby enhancing the quality of data generated and submitted to the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). 

Our Grant Progress Assessment teams have conducted a total of 385 external DNA audits and 872 grant assessments; program assessors have visited 562 individual agencies or laboratories.  In 2007 alone, 41 individual DNA audit reports and 381 grant assessment reports were generated. 

We've also put together training programs and workshops in numerous forensic disciplines including DNA analysis, firearms examination, pattern evidence, and emerging technologies, among others.  Training deliverables are typically web-based, which makes them more cost effective and sustainable.  When we couple these with hands-on practical curriculum, analysts can be trained and bench-ready in far less time than typically required in strictly a mentor-based training environment.

Our Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court program helped to broaden the training impact for the judiciary by providing a resource that ultimately assists scientists by bringing forensic DNA resources to support DNA related courtroom testimony.

CLR:  What current or developing program are you most excited about?  Why?

KL: Several come to mind.  In September 2007, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) named NFSTC as the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.  NFSTC is the only center focused on OJP forensic research and development initiatives.

We're also partnering with NIJ to develop and manage a Missing Persons Database as part of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (www.NamUs.gov).  We expect that in 2009 this database will be fully integrated with the Unidentified Decedents Database, which is also part of NamUs.  That will allow for simultaneous searching of missing-persons records against cases in the decedents-database to identify human remains and solve missing persons cases.  NamUs fills an overwhelming need for a central reporting system for unidentified-remains cases and missing-persons records that is designed to be accessible to law enforcement investigators as well as the general public.

We also formed a partnership in 2006 with the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to develop a readily deployable forensic laboratory.  It was modeled after a concept used for processing Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and was modified to expand the portability and availability of forensic analysis capabilities in the United States and internationally.  The laboratory architecture is comprised of four structures that are attached to form a single unit.   It is very versatile and creates approximately 1600 square feet of laboratory space that can be used in response to a natural disaster or an accidental incident and as a force multiplier to support existing forensic operations or to supplement a functional laboratory in an effort to reduce case backlogs.. 

We also have another interesting project for training forensic pathologists. This program is sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and  includes some of the more basic concepts of forensic science that can be used by medical examiners to enhance their medicolegal investigations.  Participation in this program has been limited and is by invitation only through the established National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) fellowship program.

CLR:  What have been some of the biggest challenges facing NFSTC over the last decade?

KL: Our greatest challenge has been managing the growth that we have experienced over the past five years.  We feel a responsibility to be a good corporate citizen and to provide a stable work environment for our employees.  From 2002 through the end of 2003, we multiplied the number of positions by nearly 2 ½ times from 11 to 27.  But fortunately, over the last five years, we have maintained an average retention rate of 97%.  

Our project base has expanded across many forensic science disciplines and related stakeholders.  We’ve managed to broaden our spectrum of work while maintaining a productive and consistent work force by leveraging our partnership with outside consultants.

CLR:  What is something that you think our readers should know about NFSTC that they probably aren't aware of?

KL: Most people don’t realize that the NFSTC facility is available to public agencies for meetings, training sessions, and conferences (up to about 110 participants) at no cost.  We also have a fully functional laboratory at our Largo facility that can be used for training and/or research activities. 

We often joke that we "whistle while we work" and this feeling is evidenced by a work environment that prompts the majority of our visitors to comment that they can tell that we truly enjoy what we do. 

CLR:  We'd like to give you a chance to comment on Crime Lab Report's recent editorial that discussed NFSTC's role in creating a competing accreditation program (FQS-I) in the forensic science community?  What are your thoughts on this issue?   

KL: I read the editorial when it was published, as did our Board members.  At that time, we chose not to respond.  The NFSTC respects the editorial forum as a means for contributors to express their perspective.

CLR:  How would you describe the current relationship between NFSTC and FQS?

KL: As we have stated repeatedly, there is no relationship between the NFSTC and FQS. 

CLR:  Would you characterize NFSTC's journey to this point a rough road, or smooth sailing?  Why?

KL: Our journey has been a series of challenges that have most often become opportunities.  NFSTC is based on a new concept in the forensic community – a non-volunteer based organization that is not membership fee driven.  We have consistently employed the approach of exploring new territory while using innovative solutions to smooth the potholes that all endeavors face.  We focus on solutions rather than the problems, knowing full well that worthwhile things are accomplished through hard work and perseverance.

CLR:  How does the future look for NFSTC?

KL: We project that the trend witnessed over the past five years toward increased work scope, growth, and funding will continue.  Our organization thrives because we have very talented and productive staff, and we can also tap the expertise within the justice community. Operationally, we've refined our business model and functions so that our program focus will remain on the pursuit of our vision, “For the forensic science community and its users to have complete confidence in the quality of the science services provided to the justice community as it strives to ensure the public safety.”  So long as we keep our eye on this prize, the future for the NFSTC looks bright. *****

Editor's Note:  For more information about NFSTC or its many programs and services, please go to www.nfstc.org.

The comments of our guests are edited only for economy and clarity, and they are provided a final draft before publication.  

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