John P. Black holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Chemistry from Ohio University. John has been employed in forensic science since 1991. He has worked for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. John has conducted nearly 300 training classes throughout North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. He is recognized by the International Association for Identification (IAI) as a Certified Latent Print Examiner, Certified Footwear Examiner and Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst. He is a former member of the IAI’s Crime Scene Certification Board (2004 – 2009) and also served as a member of SWGFAST (2007 – 2011).  He served has served on the OSAC Friction Ridge Subcommittee since 2014. He has also served on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Forensic Identification (2001 – 2013) and on the IAI’s Footwear and Tire Track Examination subcommittee (2010 – 2013). John was awarded Distinguished Member status with the IAI in 2007.

Debbie Benningfield, CLPE is a retired latent print examiner from the Houston Police Department.  During her 31 year career with HPD, she worked as a Tenprint Examiner, AFIS Manager and upon her retirement in 2006 was a latent print examiner.  She has served on various boards and commissions througout her career and has taught over 90 fingerprint courses throughout the United States and abroad.

James E. “Jamie” Bush earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS.  He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.  He began his career in criminal justice as a uniformed police officer in 1975 with the City of Laurel, MS Police Department.  After four years in the Patrol Division, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) where he was trained in crime scene investigation and fingerprint science.

Jon S. Byrd is currently employed as the Director of Laboratory Services for Ron Smith and Associates, Inc. where he oversees their ISO/IEC 17025 and 17043 accredited laboratory in Collinsville Mississippi. He earned a BS degree in Criminal Justice and a MS in Forensic Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and has both lab and law enforcement experience.  Mr. Byrd is an active member of the International Association for Identification (IAI) and the Mississippi division of the IAI (MDIAI).  He is currently board certified as a Latent Print Examiner and Footwear Examiner by the IAI, and currently serves on the IAI Footwear Certification Board. Mr. Byrd has been honored by receiving distinguished membership status within IAI and by receiving an award for the Most Outstanding Faculty Member in a University setting. He has published several articles, the most recent being “Confirmation Bias, Ethics and Mistakes in Forensics.” Mr. Byrd has lectured at all levels ranging from Universities to Government agencies as well as Internationally. 

Dr. Christiansen received his Psy.D. degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1990. He became a licensed psychologist in 1994 and he has been in private practice for 35 years. Prior to private practice, he worked in several hospitals serving adolescents and adults across a broad spectrum of mental health issues.  He has also worked in the field of corrections, again serving both adolescents and adults. Working in a milieu setting and as a member of a team, he was able to observe firsthand the mentally ill and those who convicted of illegal activities.

Shortly after beginning his private practice, Dr. Christiansen received a request to provide training to a local law enforcement agency. With the overwhelming response that followed, his private practice tended more and more to law enforcement and first responders. Over the course of his career, Dr. Christiansen has provided thousands of pre-employment evaluations, numerous fit-for-duty evaluations, and he has trained thousands in the areas of mental health and trauma. He currently works with more than 30 agencies in providing these services in addition to wellness sessions and individual consultation.

In 1971 Brian Dalrymple began a career in identification with the Ontario, Canada Provincial Police, Forensic Identification Services. In 1977 he co-developed the technique of evidence detection with argon lasers through inherent fluorescence and became the first in the world to operate an argon laser for the detection of evidence in criminal investigations. Brian is an adjunct professor at Laurentian University, in Ontario Canada.  He teaches two courses in a degree program for Forensic Identification, the first of its kind.

Brian Dew began his career as a Forensic Analyst with the Wilson, NC Police Department where he was responsible for major crime scene investigations, latent print examinations and AFIS operations.  During his career, he has successfully completed in excess of 750 hours of forensic training in a wide array of evidence collection and laboratory examination topics.  Brian has provided assistance in crime scene investigations, latent print examinations and other related matters to a large number of local, state, and federal agencies.

Mike Jordahl is a Senior Consultant for Ron Smith and Associates, Inc. in Dunedin, FL.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI.  Prior to his current position, Mike worked for the Rapid City Police Department in Rapid City, South Dakota for 18 years.   He has been a fingerprint examiner and crime scene investigator for over 12 years and is an IAI Certified Latent Print Examiner.  He is also a graduate of the National Forensic Academy in Knoxville, TN.  Mike has previously served on the IAI Dakotas Division board as the editor, vice president, and president.

Glenn Langenburg is certified latent print examiner and has been performing fingerprint examinations since 2000 for almost 20 years.  He manages a consulting business (Elite Forensic Services, LLC) which provides training courses to fingerprint examiners around the world.  He has experience with crime scenes and bloodstain pattern evidence and he is certified as a general criminalist by the American Board of Criminalistics.  Glenn has a Ph.D. in Forensic Science from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. His thesis, “A Critical Analysis and Study of the ACE-V Process”, focuses on decision-making and the application of ACE-V by fingerprint experts.  Glenn has lectured and hosted workshops nationally and internationally at forensic science conferences on topics including Daubert issues, research, probabilistic approach, error rates, and fingerprint methodology.  He has published numerous research articles in peer reviewed journals.  Glenn had the privilege of serving the fingerprint community as a member of SWGFAST (Scientific Working Group for Friction Ridge Analysis, Study, and Technology) for ten years.  He also co-hosts a podcast, “The Double Loop Podcast”, on fingerprint topics with Eric Ray. 

Derek Mahlum is currently employed as a General Case Detective with the Great Falls, MT Police Department and has over 15 years of field experience related to crime scene processing and evidence collection.  Derek started his career as a police officer with a small agency in Northeastern Montana and after a short time, he transferred to a larger agency in Central Montana where he promoted to the position of Sergeant and served until 2011.  He then transferred to his current agency working his way into investigations as well as the departments High Risk Unit (S.W.A.T). Over his years of service he has been assigned to work a variety of crimes to include property crimes, robberies, sexual assaults, death scenes as well as homicides.

Mr. Mahlum is currently certified as a Crime Scene Analysist through the International Association of Identification.  Mr. Mahlum is currently certified in the State of Montana as an instructor and teaches several different topics within his agency to include crime scene processing, firearms, and tactical medicine.  Mr. Mahlum has accrued over 850 hours of various law enforcement training throughout his career.

Erik Malz, CLPE, CCSA serves as a forensic consultant and latent print examiner for Ron Smith and Associates, Inc. He has years of both crime scene investigation and friction ridge examination experience and has served as an assistant supervisor and field training officer for a forensics unit in Central Florida. Erik is an instructor for RS&A and the International Latent Print Examiner Training Academy.

Matthew Marvin has been employed in the forensic identification field for over 16 years, and has worked cases from over thirty-five states and five countries.  He was employed with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Science Laboratory for ten years, where he was the technical leader for latent prints, footwear and tire tracks. He is presently employed as the latent print technical manager with Ron Smith and Associates, Inc.’s headquarters laboratory.  Mr. Marvin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with graduate work in biochemistry.  He has been published four times in peer-reviewed journals.  Mr. Marvin has lectured on numerous occasions regarding both latent print and footwear examinations.  He is a standing instructor at The National Latent Print Examiner Academy.  As a board certified latent print examiner by the International Association for Identification (I.A.I.), he currently serves on the Science and Practice Subcommittee on Latent Print Development and on the Latent Print Certification Board.  Mr. Marvin is also a board certified footwear examiner by the I.A.I. and serves on the OSAC Footwear and Tire Subcommittee as well as the ASB Footwear and Tire Consensus Body.  He has been qualified numerous times as an expert witness in court.

Brendan Max is the Chief of the Forensic Science Division (FSD) of the Cook County Public Defender Office.  The FSD handles all litigation of forensic evidence in complex felony cases for The Office.  Brendan has extensive experience litigating cases involving forensic DNA and forensic fingerprint evidence, from pre-trial admissibility litigation to expert testimony at trial.  Prior to his current position, Brendan was an attorney in the Homicide Task Force in The Office, where he was a lead attorney representing indigent clients charged with First Degree Murder.  Brendan also has extensive experience training other attorneys on the litigation of forensic evidence in criminal cases.  Brendan has been a criminal defense attorney for over 20 years.

Alicia McCarthy earned a B.Sc. in chemistry and statistics from the National University of Ireland and holds M.S. degrees in forensic science, criminal justice, and business administration from Strathclyde University and Husson University, respectively. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Dundee, with a focus on how juries interpret testimony from expert witnesses.

Alicia is an associate professor at Thomas College and has practiced forensic science since 2001, working for Forensic Science Ireland, the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory and through private consulting. She is a member of the board of directors for the International Association for Identification (IAI) and her local division, the New England Division of the IAI. She is a member of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for forensic science and sits on the human factors, terminology, and footwear/tire subcommittees. She is also a member of the American Academy of Forensic Science Academy Standards Board (ASB). Alicia holds four IAI certifications in latent prints, footwear, forensic photography, and crime scene analysis.

Lauren G. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science with an emphasis in Polymer Science and a minor in Administration of Justice from the University of Southern Mississippi and has been in the forensic field since 2008. Lauren is a Senior Consultant for Ron Smith and Associates, Inc. and is an IAI Certified Latent Print Examiner. She is also an instructor for the RSA National Latent Print Training Academy covering numerous topics, such as: basic processing, advanced processing, recording of known prints and comparison techniques. She is actively involved in the Mississippi Division of the IAI and has served on the board of directors, Vice President and 2018-2019 President.

Dr. Christine Snyder joined the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 as a Crime Scene Analyst and Footwear/Tire Impression Examiner after working at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Virginia Division of Forensic Science, and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia.  Christine is a Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst and Certified Footwear Examiner with the International Association for Identification.  She is actively involved with the International Association for Identification and the Florida Division as a member of the Crime Scene Certification Board (IAI), Crime Scene Certification Committee (FDIAI), and Chair of the Footwear & Tire Track Identification Committee (FDIAI).  Christine is also a member of the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System (FEMORS) and a Grant Reviewer for the National Institute of Justice.  Christine was previously the Chair of the Standards Committee for the Scientific Working Group for Shoeprint and Tire Tread Evidence (SWGTREAD).  She is a frequent lecturer on crime scene investigation, death investigation, and impression evidence.  Christine holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Ecology, concentrating in Anthropology, from the University of Florida, a Master of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with minors in Environmental Studies and Political Science, from Virginia Commonwealth University.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminalistics/Criminal Justice from Weber State University in 1993, Jon began his forensic science career with the Salt Lake City Police Department Crime Laboratory.  In 1996, he continued his career in the pacific northwest where he has worked as a forensic scientist, temporary lab director, latent print examiner, and as a technical leader for both the latent print and crime scene disciplines.

Jon is both a Certified Latent Print Examiner and a ‘Distinguished Member’ of the International Association for Identification (IAI), currently serving as Editor for their quarterly publication, IDentification News.

Jon was a fourteen-year member of the NIJ sponsored Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWGFAST) and has had several research projects pertaining to latent friction ridge development published in the Journal of Forensic Identification, Fingerprint Whorld and Divisional IAI newsletters.  More recently, Jon has instructed numerous comparison courses (Intermediate, Advanced and Plantar Comparison of Friction Ridge Impressions) to both latent print and tenprint analysts throughout the United States and from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico and Sweden.

Douglas Young is currently employed as a Senior Criminalist and has over 17 years of field experience as a crime scene investigator.   He began his law enforcement career as a Deputy Sheriff with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Department in Indiana where he served as the department’s crime scene investigator.  He served as a Senior Crime Scene Specialist with the Austin Texas Police Department until 2002 - when he returned to Indiana to assume the position of Chief of Police with the Oakland City Police Department.  Mr. Young is certified as a crime scene investigator through the International Association for Identification and serves as a member of the crime scene certification board for the Rocky Mountain Division of the IAI.