National Technology Validation and Implementation Collaborative

The National Technology Validation and Implementation Collaborative (NTVIC) was established in 2022 with a vision to collaborate nationally on forensic science validation, method development, and implementation in the public sector.  The group is not associated with any organization, corporation, or non-profit.  However, the group is connected with prominent forensic science membership organizations, universities, and private technology and research companies.  The NTVIC Members are federal, state, regional, and large local forensic science laboratory directors with validation needs and resources.  The NTVIC Members have a common vision to share existing resources to work together on validation and implementation projects to lessen the burden on individual forensic science and forensic medicine providers to perform the work.  Goals or the NTVIC are:

 1) Oversee developmental validation and implementation plans for emerging technology in public forensic science laboratories.   

2) Pool existing resources at Member laboratories to validate and implement the solution more quickly and provide more robust data sets. 

3) Publish the developmental validation work for purposes of public scrutiny. 

 4) Develop model methods, performance verification plans, and procurement documentation to speed technology transfer into public forensic science laboratories.

Current members of the NTVIC Steering Group are:

Idaho State Police Forensic Services (Matthew Gamette—Chair)

Alaska State Crime Laboratory (David Kanaris)

Arizona Department of Public Safety (Stephen Butler)

ASCLD Forensic Science Research Committee (Henry Maynard)

California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services (Barry Miller)

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Services (Lance Allen)

Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protections Division of Scientific Services (Cheryl Carreiro)

Department of Defense DNA Operations for the Armed Force Medical Examiner Service (Dr. Timothy McMahon)

District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences (Jennifer Love)

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Forensic Services (Jason Bundy) 

Florida, Miami-Dade Police Department, Forensic Services Division (Stephanie Stoiloff)

Georgia Bureau of Investigations Division of Forensic Sciences (Cleveland Miles)

Illinois State Police (Robin Woolery)

Illinois State Police and Loyola University Chicago Retired (Dr. Garry Bombard)

Indiana State Police Laboratory (Carl Sobieralski)

Kansas Bureau of Investigation (TL Price)

Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Jeremy Triplett)

Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory (Adam Becknel) 

Maryland, Baltimore Police Department Forensic Laboratory Section (Ken Jones)

Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division (Jeff Nye)

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Services (Catherine Knutson)

Mississippi Crime Laboratory (Deedra Hughes)

Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory Division (Brian Hoey)

Montana Forensic Science Division (Travis Spinder)

Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory (Jason Linder)

Nevada, Washoe County Sheriff's Office (Steven Johnson) 

New Jersey State Police (Laura Tramontin)

New York State Police Crime Laboratory System (Dr. Jill Dooley)

New York State Police Crime Laboratory System-Retired (Dr. Ray Wickenheiser)

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (Roger Davis)

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Criminalistics Services Division (Captain Grace Helms)

Oregon State Police (Brian Medlock)

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Police Department Office of Forensic Science (Michael Garvey)

Rhode Island (Dennis Hilliard)

South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (Kristina Fryer)

Texas Department of Public Safety (Brady Mills)

Utah Department of Public Safety Bureau of Forensic Services (Amy Lightfoot)

Virginia Department of Forensic Science (Linda Jackson)

West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory (Sheri Lemons)

Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Forensic Sciences (Jennifer Naugle)

Wyoming State Crime Laboratory (Scott McWilliams)

Contact the NTVIC

PUBLICATIONS

NTVIC Introduction (FSI-Synergy February 2023)

NTVIC Policies and Procedures (FSI-Synergy February 2023)

NTVIC Policies and Procedures Version 2 (FSI-Synergy November 2023)

NTVIC Recommended General MOU for FIGG Participants July 2024

NTVIC Policies and Procedures Version 3 (FSI-Synergy June 2025)

POSITIONS

NTVIC FIGG Model State Legislation  June 2023

NTVIC Maryland and Utah FIGG Bill Comparison  June 2023

PUBLIC COMMENTS

NTVIC Public Comments on IGGAB Document May 2023

NTVIC Public Comments to IGGAB July 2024

NTVIC National Presentations

2025 Presentation at AAFS Meeting

2025 Dr. Garry Bombard presentation at ASCLD on Rapid DNA Evidence Based Evaluation

PUBLICATIONS AND POLICIES SHARED WITH NTVIC

University of North Texas Investigative Support Unit Policy

University of North Texas Investigative Support Unit Operational Standards Manual

Othram Open Access Publications

Othram Genetic Genealogy Portal 

Othram Education on Migrating to MPS

Subcommittee #1--Public Entity FIGG Policy and Procedure

Subcommittee #1(a)--Canadian Public Entity FIGG Policy and Procedure

Subcommittee #1(g)--Public Entity Genealogists

Subcommittee #2--Public Laboratory  FGG Technical Validation

Subcommittee #3--FGG and IGG Training for Public Entities

Subcommittee #4--FGG and IGG Contracts with Public Entities

Be considered for a subcommittee

Mission:

The Firearms 3D imaging Technical Validation Working Group was established by the NTVIC in June 2023 after significant discussion among state and local laboratory directors about appropriate implementation of this technology and building on the efforts of the FBI 2D/3D working group.  The group will focus on developmental validation and performance verification of the technology and instrumentation into the public laboratory environment in concert with instrument vendors, government entities, and technical working groups already working in this space.  

Objective Statement:

Implementation of Virtual Comparison Microscope (VCM) technology into workflows in public law enforcement and forensic science laboratories.  Create sample policies and procedures, investigate and review developmental validation that may exist within the community for the various VCM technologies.  Provide guidance on deployment validation for implementation in laboratories (aligning with published forensic science standards) and explore the possibility of developing sample materials that can be distributed to laboratories for use in validation of the systems.

Members:

Kansas Bureau of Investigation, (TL Price  Co-Chair)

Montana Department of Justice, (Travis Spinder Co-Chair)

Arizona Department of Public Safety, (Jared Ford)

California Department of Justice, (James Hamiel)

Idaho State Police, (Britany Wylie)

Illinois State Police, (William Demuth)

Kansas Bureau of Investigation, (Stephani Hinshaw)

Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory (Adam Becnel)

Miami-Dade Police Department (Sarah J. Johnson)

Michigan State Police (Rebecca Smith)

Minnesota BCA (Nathaniel J. Pearlson)

Missouri State Highway Patrol, (Alexander Belt)

Montana Department of Justice, (Douglas Lancon)

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification, (Mark Losko)

Tennessee Bureau of Identification, (Connor Lamberson)

Texas Department of Public Safety, (Sandy Parent)

Be considered for a subcommittee

Mission:

On August 9, 2023, the NTVIC voted unanimously to form a third Technical Validation Working Group focusing on Rapid DNA.  The goal of the working group is to support the coordinated and streamlined cooperative validation and implementation of Rapid crime scene DNA to create one network of FSSPs (Forensic Science Service Providers) that will enable efficient and effective adoption of Rapid DNA technology, create a shared pool of resources for policies, procedures, training, IT, etc. using the same harmonized system that can leverage immediate mutual assistance if there is a national emergency.  The working group will pursue this goal by collaborating with the FBI, SWGDAM, jurisdictions pursuing implementation of Rapid DNA, vendors and other cooperating stakeholders.  

Members:

Brian Hoey (Lab Director, Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory Division) Co-chair

Joanie Brocato (Department Head, LSU Health Sciences Center Dept of Medical Laboratory Science) Co-chair

Ray Wickenheiser (Director, New York State Police Crime Laboratory System) Co-chair

ANDE (Melissa Schwandt)

A2LA (Rachel Duke)

Bensalem Police Department, Pennsylvania (Glenn Vandergrift)

Connecticut State Police Crime Laboratory (Guy Vallaro)

Connecticut State Police Crime Laboratory (Cheryl Carreiro)

East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office (Todd Morris)

Fisher Police Department, Indiana (Jim Hawkins)

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (Chris Carney)

Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Laura Sudkamp)

Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Jeremy Triplett)

Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Regina Wells)

Loyola University Chicago and Illinois State Police - Retired (Dr. Garry Bombard)

Louisiana State Police Forensic Laboratory (Adam Becnel)

Louisiana State Police Forensic Laboratory (Philip Simmers)

Miami-Dade Police Department, Forensic Services Division (Stephanie Stoiloff)

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Services (Catherine Knutson)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (Dr. Pete Vallone)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (Dr. John Butler)

New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences (Jennifer Thayer)

New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Appeallate Bureau (Amanda Schwartz)

New York State Police Crime Laboratory System (Meegan Fitzpatrick)

Orange County District Attorney's Office (Eric Eastman)

Orange County District Attorney's Office (Michael Briante)

Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory (Julie Sikorsky)

Philadelphia Police Department Crime Laboratory (Mike Garvey)

Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory (Reta Newman)

Marshall University (Jason Chute)

SNA (Erin Forry)

Texas Department of Public Safety (Brandon Letts)

Thermo Fisher (Matt Gabriel)

West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory (Melissa Runyan)

Subcommittee Assignments:

Procurement

Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory (Julie Sikorsky – Chair)

Loyola University Chicago and Illinois State Police - Retired (Garry Bombard)

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Services (Catherine Knutson)

Louisiana State Police Forensic Laboratory (Philip Simmers)

Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Laura Sudkamp)

Erin Forry (SNA)/ Jason Chute (Marshall University)

Infrastructure

Miami-Dade Police Department, Forensic Services Division (Stephanie Stoiloff – Co-Chair)

Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory (Reta Newman – Co-Chair)

New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Appellate Bureau (Amanda Schwartz)

Orange County District Attorney's Office (Michael Briante)

Philadelphia Police Department Crime Laboratory (Mike Garvey)

West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory (Melissa Runyan)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (Dr. Pete Vallone)

Garry Bombard

Integration

East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office (Todd Morris – Co-Chair) 

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (Chris Carney)

Louisiana State Police Forensic Laboratory (Philip Simmers)

Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Jeremy Triplett)

New Jersey Police Office of Forensic Sciences (Jennifer Thayer)

Orange County District Attorney's Office (Eric Eastman)

Fisher Police Department, Indiana (Jim Hawkins)

New York State Police Crime Laboratory System (Meegan Fitzpatrick)

Erin Forry (SNA)

Validation

Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Regina Wells - Chair)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (Erica Romsos)

ANDE (Melissa Schwandt)

A2LA (Rachel Duke)

Connecticut State Police Crime Laboratory (Guy Vallaro)

Thermo Fisher (Matt Gabriel)

Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory Division (Brandon Letts)

Marshall University (Jason Chute)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (Dr. John Butler)

New York State Police Crime Laboratory System (Meegan Fitzpatrick)

 Be considered for a subcommittee

Mission:

The development and implementation of single-cell analysis recovery and interpretation techniques have the potential to revolutionize modern forensic DNA analysis. These techniques can enhance resolution by reducing reliance on mixture interpretation and linking DNA profiles to individual cells and cell types. The mission of the Single Cell Working Group (SCWG) is to: (1) identify research gaps and new techniques and associated risks that will allow single-cell analysis to meet the practical needs of crime laboratories; (2) develop best practices for the recovery and interpretation of single-cell samples; and (3) formulate plans to integrate, implement, and validate single-cell analysis within the mainstream forensic DNA workflow. The successful implementation of these new technologies in forensic science requires a range of perspectives, therefore the SCWG will include a diverse group of forensic DNA practitioners, lab directors, and academic researchers.

Members:

Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute/Professor of Practice—Syracuse University (Mike Marciano, PhD - chair)

Forensic Services Division at Miami-Dade Police Department (Stephanie Stoiloff, MS – co-chair)

Dept. of Forensic Genetics, Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany (Katja Anslinger, PhD)

Earlham Institute, Norwich, UK (Iain Macaulay)

University of Central Florida (Jack Ballantyne, PhD)

Laboratory for Forensic Genetics & Molecular Archaeology—University Hospitals Leuven Belgium (Bram Bekaert, PhD)

Loyola University, Chicago -retired (Garry Bombard, PhD)

KU Leuven, Belgium (Kristina Fokias, MS)

Rutgers University, Camden New Jersey (Catherine Grgicak, PhD)

Institute for Forensic Medicine University of Basel, Switzerland (Janine Schulte, PhD)

Institute for Forensic Medicine University of Basel, Switzerland (Iris Schulz, PhD)

Oregon State Police – Forensic Services Division (Amber Vandepoele, MS)

Publications:

• NTVIC TVWG Lexicon August 2025

Mission:

Members:

Publications:

Mission:

The Task Group will conduct public policy evaluations for the NVTIC Working Groups. 

·         Cost-benefit Analysis (Cost Effectiveness) for new programs;

·         Evidence-Based Evaluations of existing programs;

·         Other evaluations recommended by Steering Group and/or Working Groups; and

·         Reduce normal NIJ evaluation time in years.

The Task Group is a demonstration project for FSSPs.

·         Introduces public policy analysis;

·         Demonstrates the value of incorporating into FSSPs budgets; and

·         Assist FSSPs on how to influence external stakeholders and entities.

Members:

Chair

•Illinois State Police and Loyola University Chicago-Retired (Dr. Garry Bombard)

Laboratory Representatives

•Idaho State Police Forensic Services (Matthew Gamette)

•New York State Police Crime Laboratory System (Dr. Jill Dooley)

•Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Services (Lance Allen)

•Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Criminalistics Services Division (Captain Grace Helms)

•Wyoming State Crime Laboratory (Scott McWilliams)

•California Department of Justice (Jennai Lawson) 

•New York, Onondaga County Center for Forensic Science (Ranee Ho)

Working Group Chairs

•Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory Division (Brian Hoey)

•LSU Health Sciences Center Dept of Medical Laboratory Science (Joanie Brocato)

•Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute/Professor of Practice—Syracuse University (Dr. Mike Marciano)

•Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Forensic Sciences (Jennifer Naugle)

•New York State Police Crime Laboratory System-Retired (Dr. Ray Wickenheiser)

•Montana Forensic Science Division (Travis Spinder)

•Miami-Dade Police Department, Forensic Services Division (Stephanie Stoiloff)

•Kansas Bureau of Investigation, (TL Price)

FIGG/UHR Evaluation Team

•Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Forensic Sciences (Dr. Melisa Wittkowske)

•DNA Labs International (Rachel Oefelein)

•Idaho State Police Forensic Services (Rylene Nowlin)

•Identifinders International (Colleen Fitzpatrick)

•Massachusetts State Police (James Short)

•Massachusetts State Police (Sidney Collins)

•Othram (David Mittleman)

•Texas Department of Public Safety (Trisha Kacer)

Rapid DNA Evaluation Team

•A2LA (Rachel Duke)

Texas Department of Public Safety (Brandon Letts)

•Connecticut State Police Crime Laboratory (Cheryl Carreiro)

•Connecticut State Police Crime Laboratory (Guy Vallaro)

•Kentucky State Police Forensic Science Laboratory (Regina Wells)

•Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Criminalistics Services Division (Beth Deen)

•Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Criminalistics Services Division (Captain Grace Helms)

•Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory (Reta Newman)

•New York State Police Crime Laboratory System (Meegan Fitzpatrick)

Toolkit Development Team

•Connecticut, University of New Haven Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences (Dr. Peter Valentin)

Strategic Partners:

ASCLD