Introduction

ASCLD Train the Director Webinar Series

ASCLD Train the Director Webinar Series

2024 Webinars

The FTCOE and ASCLD are pleased to bring you the 2024 collaborative installment in the Train the Director webinar series. This year our subject matter experts will be covering a variety of topics including decision analysis studies in pattern evidence examinations, modern applications of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) for forensic science service providers, and results from the most recent Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories (CPFFCL), which provides national-level data on the workload and operations of crime labs. 

1.) FBI Laboratory Decision Analysis Studies in Pattern Evidence Examinations
This webinar occurred on March 19, 2024
Presenter: Gene Peters
View archived webinar here!

2.) DEIA: What I learned from the AAFS Diversity Outreach Committee
This webinar occurred on March 28, 2024
Presenter: Joe Treviño 
View archived webinar here!

3.) A National Snapshot of Publicly Funded Crime Laboratory Operations
This webinar occurred on April 2, 2024 
Presenters: BeLinda Weimer and Matt Durose
View archived webinar here!

2023 Webinars

The FTCOE and ASCLD are pleased to bring you the 2023 collaborative installment in the Train the Director webinar series. This year our subject matter experts will be covering a variety of topics including standards development, positive quality culture, case management, digital tools, and more!

1.) The State of Standard Development & Tools for Assessing and Implementing Standards
This webinar originally occurred on January 17, 2023
Presenters: Ray Wickenheiser, Ph.D., Erin Forry, & Teresa Ambrosius 
Roundtable Discussion: Jody Wolf, M.S., M.B.A., Eva M.L. King, M.S., Reta Newman, & Peter Stout, Ph.D. 
View archived webinar here!

2.) Maintaining a Positive Quality Culture during Change
This webinar originally occurred on January 24, 2023 
Presenters: John Knell & Brooke Arnone, M.Ed.
View archived webinar here!

3.) Triaging Cases - Case Management and All That Means
This webinar originally occurred January 31, 2023
Presenters: Chris Krug, M.S., M.P.A. & Jeremy Triplett, M.S.
View archived webinar here!

4.) Going All In - Laboratories With Completely Digital Systems
This webinar originally occurred on February 2, 2023
Presenters: Timothy Suggs & Mandy Tinkley
View archived webinar here!

2022 Webinars

The FTCOE and ASCLD are pleased to bring you the latest collaborative installment in the Train the Director webinar series. This year our subject matter experts will be covering a variety of topics including BJA Forensic Grants 101, applying the OSAC Registry of Standards to quality systems, COVID-19 impacts on forensic laboratories, and marijuana legalization laws!

1.) BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Forensic Grant Opportunities
This event originally occurred on March 10, 2022
Presenter(s): Andrea Borchardt, M.S.
View archived webinar here!

2.) BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Grant Application and Award Acceptance
This event originally occurred on March 17, 2022
Presenter(s): Alan Spanbauer, M.B.A.
View archived webinar here!

3.) BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Award Management
This webinar originally occurred on March 24, 2022
Presenter(s): Mila Hago, M.P.A.
View archived webinar here!

4.) Application of the OSAC Registry of Standards to Forensic Science Service Providers’ Quality Systems
This webinar originally occurred on March 31, 2022
Presenter(s): John Paul Jones II, M.B.A. & Mark D. Stolorow, M.S., M.B.A. 
View archived webinar here!

5.) Legalization of Marijuana: The Journey of Marijuana Laws in Colorado and Ohio
This webinar originally occurred on April 5, 2022
Presenter(s): Melissa Colmenero & Barbara Hoover
View archived webinar here!

6.) Pandemic Impacts in the Workplace: Employee Wellness, Returning to the Office, & Remote Testimony
This webinar originally occurred on April 12, 2022
Presenter(s): Angie Jones, Jessica Domme, & Kristin Feeback, PsyD
View archived webinar here!

2021 Webinars

Due to the overwhelming response to the first two seasons, the FTCOE and ASCLD are pleased to bring you the latest collaborative installment in the Train the Director webinar series. This year, our subject matter experts will be covering a variety of topics, including creating an unbiased culture in the laboratory, new hire onboarding, online learning platforms, 3D firearm technology, and more!

1.) Developing an Unbiased Culture in Your Laboratory
Live webinar originally occurred on May 26th, 2021
Presenter: Jody Wolf
Click here to learn more.

2.) Firearms 3D Technology: Advantages and Value for Implementing 3D Technologies
Live webinar originally occurred on June 2nd, 2021
Presenters: Erich Smith & Heather Seubert
Click here to learn more.

3.) Successful Onboarding in Crime Laboratories
Live webinar originally occurred on June 16th, 2021
Presenter: Samantha Webb
Click here to learn more.

4.) Best Practices for Engaging Participants in Video Conferences
Live webinar originally occurred on July 7th, 2021
Presenters: Michael McGuire & Tracy Routsong
Click here to learn more.

2020 Webinars

In season two of the ASCLD Train the Director webinar series, subject matter experts covered a variety of topics to include quality assurance, investigative genetic genealogy, toxicology, and marijuana analysis.

1.) Quality Assurance: Beyond Accreditation
Live webinar originally occurred on January 9th, 2020

Presenter: Erin Forry
Click here to learn more.

2.) Investigative Genetic Genealogy: Background and Crime Lab Strategy
Live webinar originally occurred on January 23rd, 2020

Presenter: Dr. Ray Wickenheiser
Click here to learn more.

3.) Toxicology: Instrumentation, Methodology, and Workflows
Live webinar originally occurred on February 6th, 2020
Presenters: Bruce Houlihan & Dan Anderson
Click here to learn more.

4.) Marijuana Analysis in a New Frontier: Two State Laboratory Approaches
Live webinar originally occurred on March 5th, 2020
Presenters: Linda Jackson & Shawn West
Click here to learn more.

2019 Webinars

In the first installment of the ASCLD Train the Director webinar series, the presenters covered topics from five different forensic disciplines: digital forensics, fire debris analysis, trace analysis, quality assurance, and crime gun intelligence. The subject matter experts that presented on these topics are champions in their respective fields and continue to bring valuable information to the forensic community through their detailed and thorough research.

1.) NIBIN Challenges and Opportunities
Live webinar originally occurred on January 24th, 2019

Presenters: Justin Bechaver, Jessica Ellefritz, Jennifer Gelston, & Benjamin Swanholm
Click here to learn more.

2.) Digital Forensics: An Overview for the Laboratory Manager
Live webinar originally occurred on January 31st, 2019 

Presenters: Timothy Scanlan & Stephen Villere
Click here to learn more.

3.) Fire Debris Analysis is Not Black Magic!
Live webinar originally occurred on February 7th, 2019
Presenter: Carl Chasteen
Click here to learn more.

4.) Trace Evidence for the Crime Laboratory
Live webinar originally occurred on February 14th, 2019
Presenter: Susan Gross, M.S.F.S.
Click here to learn more.

5.) Quality Assurance in the Forensic Laboratory
Live webinar originally occurred on February 21st, 2019
Presenters: Brooke Arnone & Stewart Raley
Click here to learn more.


Related Resource


Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence webinar has been provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this webinar are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact us at ForensicCOE@rti.org with any questions and subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.


Related Content

Graphic Description – Frequently Used Data Elements Collection Systems and Primary Documentation

Date April 2024 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-in partnership with its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International and the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-convened a virtual Medicolegal Death…

Graphic Description – Medicolegal Death Investigation Case Specific Frequently Used Data Elements and Chart

Date April 2024 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-in partnership with its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International and the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-convened a virtual Medicolegal Death…

Navigating Medical Examiner and Coroner Office Accreditation Challenges: A Practical Guide

Date December 2023 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in partnership with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International and CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, set out to re-examine common obstacles and barriers that impede…