Committees

Mission:
The mission of the Advisory Committee is to assist the Board of Directors and the members of the Association by offering advice, counsel and assistance from their knowledge of the Association and the field of firearms and tool mark identification.

Chair: Charles Clow

Members: William Demuth, Wendy Gibson, Edward Wallace, Nancy McCombs

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To accept, evaluate and render an opinion on applications submitted for AFTE membership, based upon the eligibility requirements as set forth in Article III of the AFTE Bylaws.

Chair: Micheal Haag

Members: Dan Alessio, Tina Wilson, Melissa Nally, Holli Worden

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To receive recommended changes or modifications to the existing By-Laws and present them to the general membership for consideration.

Chair: Kelsey Cramer

Members: Eugene Bishop, Kathy Geil, Jessica Pappas, Travis Spinder, Michael Ward

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:

• To progress in a way that is consistent with the collective vision of the AFTE Board of Directors.
• To administer the primary certification program.
  • To work with independent firms to administer online written certification tests.
  • To administer practical certification tests.
• To administer the recertification program.

Chair: Carolyn Martinez

Members: Eric Collins, Dwight Deskins, Cindee Lorenzo, Frans Maritz, Jodi Marsanopoli, Stephen Ostrowski, Mark Tanner, Robert Thompson

Certification Test Refresh Sub-Committee: Wendy Gibson (Chair), Lauren Black, Jessica Copeland, Dwight Deskins, Gerard Dutton, Jeffery Goudeau, Julie Knapp, Jodi Marsanopoli, Melissa Oberg

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
The Editorial Committee is responsible for the production of the AFTE Journal, (the official publication of the Association) the AFTE Newsletter, and any other publications that may be directed by the Board of Directors, and is responsible for ensuring the quality and technical accuracy of these publications.

Editor: Jennifer Gelston
Assistant Editors: Eric Collins, Gerard Dutton, Pavel Giverts, Michael Haag, Julie Knapp, William Matty, Eric Warren
Copy Editor: Megan Cleek and Molly Fava
AFTE Journal Desktop Publisher/Copy Editor: Ashley Martin
AFTE Newsletter Desktop Publisher/Copy Editor: Darryl Barr
Publication Secretary: Jacobus Swanepoel

Editorial Review Panel: Arthur Andrade, Steve Aston, Justin Bechaver, Brandon Best, Lauren Black, Matthew Bolton, Aaron Brudenell, Damon Cooper, Glenn Davis, Jill Dupre, Kimberly Haag, Jessica Kennedy, Cara McCarthy, Bronwyn McMaster, Erin Mulligan, Ronald Nichols, Toniann Rebick, Steve Scott, Kristen Schaefer, Ed Wallace, Jessica Winn

Duties/Responsibilities

Reviewer Guidance Manual

Mission:
To design and maintain a database of technical reference materials, including images, data, and documents, relevant to the field of Firearm and Tool Mark Identification accessible to the membership through the AFTE website.

Chair: Jill Therriault
Co-Chair: Adam Grooms

Class Characteristics Database Sub-Committee: Jill Therriault (Chair), Megan Burgess, Erica Lawton, Jay Stuart, Linzee Willette

Safety Recall List Sub-Committee: Mitzi Templeton (Chair)

Quality Assurance Sub-Committee: Laura Hollenbeck (Chair), Jessica Copeland, Dwight Deskins, Franz Maritz, Jimmy Palma

Admissibility Resource Kit (ARK) Sub-Committee: Patricia Linley (Chair), Maeve Godshalk, Gregory Klees, Rebecca Mullen, Andy Smith

Serial Number Sub-Committee: Kate Millar (Chair), Hannah Dygert, Zoe Krohn, Jason Otis

Headstamp Gallery Sub-Committee: Mallory Brewer (Chair)

Machining and Subclass Sub-Committee: Omar Felix (Chair), Alina Sanchez, Alexander Belt, Chris Monturo, Steve Guerra, Arthur Andrade

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:

• To educate both the individual accused and the membership in general of the ethics of the profession and the importance of ethical behavior.
• To advise the criminal justice system of those individuals who engage in serious unethical activity, in order to promote the ends of justice.
• To protect the reputation of the Association from those members who may engage in unethical activity.

Chair: Laura Fleming

Members: Russell Karsten, Stephen Ostrowski

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To preserve records relating to the evolution of the association, who the individuals were, when and what contributions were made in the past for future reference by members and interested parties.

Chair: Helen Lake

Members: Rebecca Smith

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To find ways to make AFTE membership more accessible to firearm examiners in countries where the necessary number of AFTE members to provide references may not be readily available. Also, to assist members who may need partial or complete translation assistance with AFTE resources.

Chair: Pavel Giverts

Members: Mohammad AlShamsi, Darryl Barr, Matthew Bolton, Jan Eckert, Hery Figueroa, Khaldoun Kabbani, Axel Manthei, Beta Tam, Nikolaos Tsiatis, Irma Ivonne Garcia Vega, Ed Wallace, Gerhard Wevers

Spanish Liaison Coordinator: Loandra Pellot-Vazquez

Mission:
To periodically review AFTE’s finances and make recommendations for present and future investments based on goals set forth by the Board of Directors.

Chair:  Gary Lind

Members: Allyson Anderson, Jim Carroll, Sean Daniel, Andrew Winter

Treasurer Assistance Sub-Committee (AFTE Treasurer):  Allyson Anderson (Chair), Bridget Chambers, Melissa Oberg

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To research and select an AFTE Member who has made significant contributions to the association through the submission of publications to the AFTE Journal.

Chair: Jacobus Swanepoel

Members: Michael Appel, David Curtiss, Felicia McIntire, Mark Proia

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To award “that AFTE member who has assisted the association in an outstanding manner”.

Chair: Valerie Bernardi

Members: Michael Beddow, Lauren Black, Felicia Click, David Curtiss, Angela Garvin, Stephanie Luehr, Rebecca Mullen, Kristen Schaefer, Corey Scott, Kenton Wong

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
The Nominating Committee will be responsible for seeking qualified AFTE candidates to serve on the Board of Directors and Board of Admissions. The committee will review all qualified applicants and present the slate of officers to the membership at the annual AFTE Business Meeting.

Chair: Zak Carr

Members: Calissa Carper, Doug Lançon

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To accept and assess submitted proposals for research projects and award funds based upon the merits of the proposals.

Chair: Michelle Fletcher

Members: Eric Collins, Richard Wyant

Unpublished Research Sub-Committee: Toniann Rebick (Chair), Deion Christophe, Kathleen Clardy

Research Design Assistance Sub-Committe: S. Judy Chin (Chair), Annalisa Lacalamita, Ryan Lilien, Todd Weller

Non-AFTE Advisors: Dr. Stephanie Madon (Psychology), Dr. Max Morris (Statistics)

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To recognize and encourage outstanding students to pursue studies to prepare them for a career in the forensic science profession.

Chair: Robyn Ostby

Members:  Steven Aston, Michael Beddow, Janey Dunn, Brooke Layne, Kasia Lynch, Scott Owens, Jessica Rutkowski, Franni Tempesta

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To advance the discipline of firearm and toolmark identification by responding to requests from the AFTE Board of Directors for draft responses regarding the science of firearm and toolmark identification that are received from the media, research entities, and any other appropriate individuals or organizations.

Co-Chairs: Zak Carr, Derrick McClarin

Members: Matthew Bolton, Aaron Brudenell, David Curtiss, Kathy Geil, Justine Kreso, Doug Lançon, Derrick McClarin, Chris Monturo, Richard Rotella, Jaimie Smith

Duties/Responsibilities

Sickness & Distress Mission:
Upon notification and depending on the situation, offer condolences to AFTE members and/or their family in the event of a death or major illness, injury or surgery.

Sickness & Distress Chair: Jill Dupre

Members: James Carroll, Alexander Jason, Jana Lagnada, Helen Lake

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To maintain and advance AFTE Standards and Training Documents.

Chair: Amy Weber

Copyright Sub-Committee: Jennifer Gelston (Chair), Karen Weimorts

Glossary Sub-Committee: Stefanie Happ (Chair), Valerie Bernardi, Christi Bonar, Jessica Copeland, Jeffery Goudeau, Travis Gover, Stacy Hartman, Dan Jackson, Russell Karsten, Stephanie Luehr

Training Manual Sub-Committee: Ashely Northcutt (Chair), Mark Boackle, Jennifer Floyd, Graham Husbands, Susan Kerr, Mark Tanner

AFTE Seminar DVD Sub-Committee: Lauren Claytor (Chair), Brian Grabowski, Stephanie Luehr

Technical Procedure Sub-Committee: Therese Moynihan (Co-Chair), Stacey Phetteplace (Co-Chair), Christi Bonar, Emily Fairbanks, Corey Scott, Robert Thompson, Shane Windsor

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To be an advisory source to the Board of Admissions on applications for Technical Advisor status.

Chair: Xiaoyu Alan Zheng

Members: Erwin Mattijssen

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To provide guidance to present and future Host Committees with information and best practices to better facilitate a successful training seminar from the planning stages through its conclusion.

Chair: Kimberly Zeller

Members: Ally Anderson, Steven Aston, Ray Barnwell, Calissa Carper, Bridget Chambers, Julie Knapp, Shane Windsor, Jessica Winn, Xiaoyu Alan Zheng

HBR1 Representative: Christy Andrews

Duties/Responsibilities

Mission:
To maintain a viable and professional website that serves the needs of both the AFTE membership as well as the general public.

Chair: Jill Therriault

Members: Jill Prather, Kate Todd, Eric Warren, Janey Dunn, Victoria Scozzafava, Joseph Vandenburgh

Forum Moderators: Robert Shem (Global Moderator), Justin Bechaver, Bridget Chambers, Dwight Deskins, Michelle Fletcher, Carolyn Martinez, Chris Monturo, Richard Rotella, Amy Weber

Social Media Sub-Committee: Justine Kreso (Chair), Jana Cathrese Lagnada, Michael Murphy, Dana Quirindongo, Jill Therriault, Holli Worden

Duties/Responsibilities