Laboratory Accreditation Board (Ascld/Lab)

MELISSA SMRZ

CAREER EXPERIENCE

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIME LABORATORY DIRECTORS/ LABORATORY ACCREDITATION BOARD (ASCLD/LAB) Feb. 2011 – present Staff Assessor (part-time), Alexandria, Virginia

. Serves as a front line representative of ASCLD/LAB in the inspection/assessment process for crime laboratories seeking accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025 (2005) and ASCLD/LAB Supplemental requirements for forensic testing laboratories and forensic breath alcohol calibration laboratories (see www.ascld-lab.org). Responsibilities include managing the inspection/assessment process, coordinating and leading teams of inspectors/assessors through the entire accreditation process, and preparing written reports of activities and assessment findings. Duties include assisting the ASCLD/LAB Board and Staff in fulfilling other duties related to the accreditation program.

INDEPENDENT FORENSIC SCIENCE CONSULTANT September 2012 – present

Alexandria, Virginia

. Consults with several private industry and government contracting firms on a variety of forensic science topics. Current contract topics include forensic science laboratory information management systems and the training of forensic science analysts for courtroom testimony.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Deputy Assistant Director, FBI Laboratory, Quantico, Virginia July 2006 – Jan. 2011

. Managed the daily operations of the FBI Laboratory that consists of nearly 700 scientists, Special Agents and support employees, and 13 forensic science disciplines, crime scene response management, evidence control, quality assurance, and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) crime scene response and science. Responsibilities consisted of managing the personnel allocation, budget strategy and allocation of over $130 million (non-personnel), research portfolio oversight, and directing quality assurance, human resources, employee development, infrastructure improvement and technology optimization initiatives. . Acted as a liaison and representative for the FBI Laboratory with other government agencies, industry, and laboratory associations such as the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD); the National Institute of Standards and Technology – Office of Law Enforcement Standards; the National Institute of Justice; the ASCLD-Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB); the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission; the Defense Intelligence Agency; and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy-National Science and Technology Council, Subcommittee on Forensic Science. . Oversaw the design of performance metrics for forensic case operations to reduce overall laboratory case completion time and backlog of un-worked cases. In 2009, overall laboratory case completion time was reduced by 30% and backlog reduced by 23%. . Led a comprehensive review of forensic science case report writing protocols to improve clarity and to optimally define scientific and result interpretation terminology for the criminal justice community. . Led the FBI Laboratory to achieve ASCLD-LAB International accreditation by compliance with ISO17025 standards and ASCLD-LAB Supplemental Requirements for Forensic Testing and Calibration Laboratories. . Initiated and led the development of the first FBI Laboratory employee mentoring program to enhance career development and employee communication opportunities. . Served as the FBI Laboratory subject matter expert in the development of the first Concept of Operations, research strategy, budget and personnel justification, and laboratory space design for the FBI’s Biometrics Center of Excellence. . Served as Acting Director of the FBI Laboratory for 2 ½ months. Section Chief, FBI Laboratory, Quantico, Virginia Dec. 2004 – July 2006 . Supervised the Forensic Analysis Section (FAS) of the FBI Laboratory. Managed the operations focusing on forensic latent prints, questioned documents, shoe print and tire tread impressions, firearms/toolmarks analyses and cryptanalysis. Oversaw implementation and management of FAS unit budget and spend plans, made recommendations regarding FAS personnel resource allocations and budget enhancements, and reviewed internal quality assurance audits and corrective action plans. . Led the re-engineering of forensic latent print operations which included management and personnel reorganization, revision of all standard operating procedures, quality control practices, and training procedures, and the implementation of improved corrective action and conflict resolution practices. . Initiated and oversaw an exhaustive review of standard operating procedures and documentation requirements of the FBI Laboratory’s pattern-based forensic science disciplines. Unit Chief, FBI Laboratory, Washington, D.C. and Quantico, Virginia July 2000 – Dec. 2004 . Served as the DNA technical leader and unit supervisor overseeing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) casework, the National Missing Persons DNA Database and the first Federal Convicted Offender DNA Database Program. Successfully hired and trained an additional 66% staff. Served as a FBI Laboratory representative on the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods to develop quality assurance standards for US forensic DNA testing and convicted offender DNA testing laboratories. Served as a member of the National DNA Index System (NDIS) Policies and Procedures Board which develops and policies for operation of the National (forensic) DNA Index database. . Led further development of the National Missing Persons DNA Database program by enhancing liaison and outreach efforts with US law enforcement agencies and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Oversaw database software review projects to optimize DNA profile search capabilities. . Chaired the NDIS Audit Review Panel which reviews the quality assurance audits of forensic DNA and convicted offender DNA testing laboratories which participate in NDIS. Reduced a significant backlog of over 100 audits within four months. . Oversaw the final space allocation and relocation plans for the mtDNA unit to a new laboratory facility. Reviewed and updated existing space, equipment, validation and personnel requirements, and developed sound and efficient relocation schedule, the result of which was the mtDNA unit being the first case working unit to begin case work in the new laboratory facility. Special Agent and Forensic Examiner, FBI Laboratory, Washington, D.C. Nov. 1992 – July 2000 . Conducted forensic serology and nuclear DNA analyses on evidentiary material in nearly 1,000 cases. Testified as a forensic serologist and DNA expert approximately 60 times in 21 states. . Managed program overseeing forensic serology and DNA case work submitted from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. This program was designed to meet investigative and prosecutive needs with legally mandated short prosecution time limits. . Served on first accreditation working group in the FBI Laboratory, which developed and implemented laboratory/system- wide quality assurance and evidence control policies and documentation requirements. This effort led to the first accreditation of the FBI Laboratory by ASCLD/LAB. . Participated on the FBI Laboratory’s Evidence Response Team to process complex crime scenes involving biological evidence. . Trained and mentored newly hired forensic scientists in forensic serology and DNA analysis during a transition of forensic examiners from Special Agents to professional support scientists. Special Agent, Indianapolis, Indiana Nov. 1989 – Nov. 1992 . Successfully completed training as a Special Agent, FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia from August 1989 – November 1989 . Investigated allegations of white collar crime violations, including financial institution, consumer, wire and mail, computer, bankruptcy and Federal government frauds. Conducted detailed interviews, financial record reviews and utilized electronic surveillance and undercover techniques in numerous, successfully prosecuted investigations. . Conducted background investigations for FBI applicants and Presidential appointment applicants. . Became certified by the FBI as a law enforcement instructor and gave instruction on crime scene processing and forensic laboratory capabilities to state and local law enforcement agencies in Indiana.

VIRGINIA BUREAU OF FORENSIC SCIENCE (Virginia Department of Forensic Science) Forensic Scientist/Serology and Microscopic Hair Analysis, Roanoke, Virginia April1986 – August 1989 . Conducted forensic serology and microscopic hair and natural fiber examinations on evidentiary material in approximately 300 cases. Testified as a forensic serologist and/or hair microscopist 16 times in Virginia. Collected and managed quality control data for serology unit. . Provided instruction on forensic serology and microscopic hair analysis, biological evidence collection, packaging and submission, and overall forensic laboratory capabilities to Virginia law enforcement personnel. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Medical Technologist (Student Assistant), Hematology Department, University of Illinois Hospital, Chicago, Illinois August 1983 – Dec. 1985 . Conducted hematology analyses, coagulation studies, body fluid cell counts and urinalysis on patient specimens. Recorded and communicated analysis results to health care providers. Performed routine quality assurance and corrective action maintenance on instrumentation.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois Sept 1983 – April 1986 . Assisted criminal justice and criminalistics faculty in preparing study material, led study groups, lectured upon request, proctored and graded examinations, evaluated student assignments and work products.

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER Medical Technologist(Generalist), Laboratory Department, Iowa City, Iowa August 1981 – July 1983

. Conducted laboratory analyses in the clinical chemistry, hematology, immuno-hematology (blood bank) and microbiology sections of the medical center hospital. Performed routine and emergency corrective maintenance for hematology instruments. Interpreted analytical results and reported results to health care providers. Performed routine quality assurance procedures as required.

EDUCATION

FBI ACADEMY, Quantico, VA Special Agent Training August – Nov. 1989

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, Chicago, IL Master of Science (with thesis), Criminalistics June 1985

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, Iowa City, IA Bachelor of Science, Zoology May 1980 Certificate in Medical Technology July 1981

PUBLICATIONS Budowle, B., Bottrell, M., Bunch, S., Fram, R., Harrison, D., Meagher, S., Oien, C., Peterson, P., Seiger, D., Smrz. M., Soltis, G., Stacey, R.. ” A Perspective on Errors, Bias, and Interpretation in the Forensic Sciences and Direction for Continuing Advancement.” Journal of Forensic Sciences, July 2009, 54(4): 798-809.

Smrz, M., Burmeister, S., Einseln, A., Fisher, C., Fram, R., Stacey, R., Theisen, C., Budowle, B. “Review of FBI Latent Print Unit Processes and Recommendations to Improve Practices and Quality.” Journal of Forensic Identification, May/June 2006, 56(3): 402-434.

CERTIFICATIONS/AUDITS/AFFILIATIONS/CLEARANCES Certifications: ASCLD/LAB Lead Assessor, ASCLD/LAB Inspector FBI certified law enforcement instructor

Affiliations: Former Ex-Officio (FBI) Member, Board of Directors, American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Commissioner, Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) Member, American Academy of Forensic Sciences Clearances: Top Secret/SCI