Expert Details
Forensic Drug Chemistry --Controlled Substances, Forensic Toxicology--Blood Alcohol, Drugs DWI
ID: 731739
Pennsylvania, USA
He is providing Forensic Drug Chemistry technical expertise in a federal criminal case involving drug analogues and the quality of the work performed by the forensic laboratory.He provided expert testimony in Forensic Toxicology for defense in a civil case involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian accident. Defense verdict.He provided expert testimony in Forensic Toxicology for defense in a civil case involving a motor vehicle accident. Defense verdict.He consulted as an expert in Forensic Toxicology for defense in a federal civil case involving an aviation accident. Stipulation by Plaintiff to Toxicology opinions.He consulted as an expert in Forensic Toxicology for defense in a civil case involving a motor vehicle accident. Plaintiff withdrew the case.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1974 | Degree: BS | Subject: Chemistry/Biology/Mathematics | Institution: University of Florida |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1985 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expertise in criminal and civil case litigation in the fields of Forensic Drug Chemistry and Toxicology. Provide testimony, as an expert witness, in criminal and civil proceedings on demand. Qualified to testify as an expert witness more than 1,000 times in trials. The scope of this expertise is in the areas of: interpretation of test results, reliability of test results, good laboratory practices, quality assessment of testing methods and procedures used, compliance with accreditation requirements, evaluation of the qualifications of: chemists toxicologists, criminalists, analysts, examiners, and technologists, strategic case planning, chain of custody, reliability of evidence, samples and specimens, back in time calculating blood alcohol (retrograde extrapolations), number of drinks, drug levels and use, medical to legal alcohol conversions, drug and alcohol human factors-impairment. Cases to include: drug possession, drug delivery, drug trafficking, drug manufacturing/cultivation, DUI/DWI, workman’s compensation, dram shop, slip and fall, accident, aircraft, motor vehicle and commercial vehicle crashes, injury, divorce and death cases.State of Georgia Vendor/Expert, Florida Justice Administrative Commission (JAC) and INTOTA registered expert |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2009 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Forensic Laboratory Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Functions as an independent contractor in the areas of business development, pre-accreditation assessment/gap analyses, quality assurance and quality control, strategic planning, grant funding, operational and performance reviews, special projects, Laboratory Information Management systems (LIMS), fee for service, performance measurement, best practices, and private sector forensic business consulting services not limited to customer/clients relationships, customer service, marketing, scientific and technical evaluations, and training.Specifics: Evaluates and makes recommendations to clients on preparation for ASCLD-LAB International and ISO 17025-9001 accreditation to include Gap Analyses. Reviews and refines laboratory quality assurance and quality control policies and procedures. Instills continuous improvement strategies. Reviews current laboratory budgets, operations and develops strategies for performance improvements. Evaluates workload and resource relationships. Facilitates the evaluation, acquisition and deployment of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). Forensic Services Strategic Planning. Provide consulting services to prospective clients considering the start-up of a forensic crime laboratory, or wishing to evaluate their existing laboratory or laboratory system. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2010 to 2013 | Employer: American Systems Corporation | Title: Forensic Program Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:Reviews and advises on national security sensitive and non-sensitive forensic business development, provides strategic and technical consultation on Forensic program initiatives. Reviews and advises on task orders, communicates with forensic team members. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2010 to 2014 | Employer: City of Valdosta | Title: Laboratory Director,Quality Manager and Trainer | Department: Valdosta Police Department |
Responsibilities:Contracted to 'start up' new forensic laboratory. It is a multiagency partnership local laboratory. As the laboratory director and quality manager, is responsible for assessing competency of existing personnel, hiring of new personnel, training of personnel in the areas of crime scene, latent prints, firearms and toolmarks, and drug chemistry. The laboratory plans to expand services to include blood alcohol forensic testing. Develops laboratory policies and standard operating procedures to govern operations, quality control and quality assurance, safety and security manuals and formal competency based training programs for all forensic services of the laboratory. Develops and implements proficiency testing plans. Selection and procurement and system administration of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Develops operating budgets and monitors expenditures--$2 million. Writes both state and federal grant proposals and manages existing grants. Directs the laboratory’s preparation for ISO 17025-9001 international accreditation. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2009 | Employer: Florida Department of Law Enforcement | Title: Forensic Services Laboratory System Director | Department: Forensic Services |
Responsibilities:Directs the overall performance of the laboratory system, establishes policies and procedures for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Laboratory System, which is comprised of seven regional laboratories housing up to eight different forensic disciplines. ASCLD/LAB accreditation, strategic planning, developing and fosters partnerships with local, state and national constituents, prioritizes system needs, $200 million budget and grants management authority, staffing analysis, consistency of operations, process improvement, workload management and legislative oversight. Forensic performance based budgeting with transparency and accountability. Command staff and executive policy board member. Interacts with the legislature and the governor's office staff in matters relating to forensic science and statewide forensic services. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2001 to 2006 | Employer: Florida Department of Law Enforcement | Title: Chief of Forensic Services--Laboratory Director | Department: Tallahassee Headquarters Regional Laboratory |
Responsibilities:Directs the operations of the Tallahassee Regional Laboratory. Provides education and training to regional investigative and legal customers. Oversees compliance with departmental policies and procedures and manages resources and manages the quality and performance within the laboratory which is comprised of seven different ASCLD-LAB accredited major forensic services including the statewide DNA Database-CODIS. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2001 | Employer: Florida Department of Law Enforcement | Title: Chief Forensic Scientist-Laboratory System Quality Manager | Department: Forensic Services |
Responsibilities:Directs the quality assurance program and ASCLD-LAB accreditation conformance for the laboratory system. The quality assurance program consists of but is not limited to: the quality manual, good laboratory practices, standard operating procedures, laboratory administrative procedures, customer service, oversight of training programs, training progress, research and validations, proficiency testing, quality root cause analysis and documents control. Develops and fosters partnerships with in-state colleges and universities to establish training, research and methods development to meet the needs of the local and FDLE forensic laboratories. The Crime Laboratory System is comprised of seven accredited regional laboratories housing up to eight different accredited major forensic services. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1975 to 1998 | Employer: Florida Department of Law Enforcement | Title: Senior Crime Laboratory Analyst--Drug Chemistry and Toxicology | Department: Orlando Regional Crime Laboratory |
Responsibilities:Isolation, identification and quantitation of toxic and drug substances inhuman fluids and organs. These duties required extensive knowledge of instrumentation, methods development and assessment, and training. Provides interpretive expert witness testimony in the areas of Pharmacology, Toxicology, Analytical Chemistry, retrograde extrapolations, and impairment on at least one thousand separate occasions. Qualified in the majority of the counties of the State of Florida and Federal District Courts. The isolation and identification of organic drug compounds. Extensive use of instrumentation, wet chemical methods and training in the theoretical basis of work product. Provides expert testimony on two hundred separate occasions. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors—Member 1998 to current American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-Laboratory Accreditation Board—Delegate Assembly-Member 1998-2009 Southern Association of Forensic Scientists 1978 to 2009 Florida Cybercrime and Digital Evidence Council-Member 2008-2009 Florida Association of Crime Laboratory Directors-Member and Legislative Liaison 2006-2009 |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Certified ISOIEC 17025-9005 Technical Assessor-American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-Laboratory Accreditation Board- International Supplemental Standards Certified Inspector-American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board- Legacy Program License to perform Legal Blood Alcohol Analyses, Florida Alcohol Testing Program--Implied Consent FDLE Forensic Drug Chemistry Certification FDLE Forensic Toxicology Certification State of Georgia--Marijuana Identification Certification |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Florida Traffic Safety Committee—Director-Technical Advisory Committee 2008-2009 |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| 2008 IACP August Vollmer Excellence in Forensic Science Award International Association of Chiefs of Police June 2008 Enhancement of Forensic Capability by a Forensic Science Provider--Reengineering the Forensic business model 2008 Davis Productivity Award Prudential Insurance and Florida Taxwatch September 2008 2008 Davis Productivity Award Forensic Science Backlog Reduction strategy reduced 18,438 pending cases to 5,927 in less than one year, resulting in $3.5 million added value. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| He has been qualified as an expert witness more than 1500 times in criminal and civil cases in federal, state and local municipality trials, hearings an depositions. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| He has developed and delivered seminars in the areas of DUI/DWI and Drug Chemistry to clients. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| He has written bid specifications and procured all necessary supplies, equipment, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and analytical instrumentation required to outfit and operate a new forensic laboratory. He is experienced in the design specifications required to properly constructing a forensic laboratory. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| He is an ISO/IEC 17025:9005 and ASCLD-LAB International Certified Technical Assessor. He can assess the quality of the work in the areas of Forensic Drug Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology in both criminal and civil cases. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| He assists governmental organizations in the start up of a new forensic laboratory, and assess the laboratory's readiness for making application for accreditation. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| English |