NIST Organization of Scientific Area 

Committees (OSAC)

a

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

Mark D. Stolorow

John Paul Jones II

Karen Reczek

Inaugural FSSB Virtual Meeting

July 7, 2014

1
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

2
FSSB Introductions - Self

1 Professional - AAFS Barry K Logan NMS Labs/Fredric Reiders Family Renaissance Foundation

2 Professional - AFTE Mark A. Keisler Indiana State Police Laboratory

3 Professional - ASCLD Jeremy Triplett Kentucky State Police

4 Professional - IAI Steven Lee Johnson Ideal Innovations, Inc.

5 Professional - NAME Andrew Michael Baker Hennepin County Medical Examiner, Hennepin County, Minnesota

6 Professional - SOFT Laurel J Farrell ASCLD/LAB

7 SAC Biology Chair George Herrin, Jr. Georgia Bureau of Investigation-Division of Forensic Sciences

8 SAC Chemistry Chair Scott R. Oulton US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration

9 SAC Crime Scene Chair Gregory George Davis University of Alabama at Birmingham

10 SAC IT Chair Richard W. Vorder Bruegge Federal Bureau of Investigation

11 SAC Physics Chair R. Austin Hicklin Noblis

12 z - Researcher 1 Anil K. Jain Michigan State University

13 z - Researcher 2 Douglas H. Ubelaker Smithsonian institution

14 z - Researcher 3 Joe Francisco University of Nebraska Lincoln (American Chemical Society President 2009-10)

15 z - Researcher 4 Karen Kafadar University of Virginia (after 8/26/2014)

16 z - Researcher 5 Sarah Kerrigan Sam Houston State University

17 Ex-Officio NIST Mark Stolorow NIST
Traditional Hierarchal Organizational Chart

SAC = Scientific Area Committee

Sub = Subcommittee

Imaging Technologies Sub

Firearms & Toolmarks 

Sub 

Questioned Documents 

Sub

DNA Analysis Sub1 Controlled Substances Sub Anthropology Sub Facial Identification Sub

Disaster Victim 

Identification Sub Friction Ridge Sub

Fire Debris and Explosives 

Sub (lab)

Materials (Trace) Sub

Medical/Legal Death 

Investigation Sub

Blood Stain Pattern 

Analysis Sub

Toxicology Sub

Dogs and Sensors Sub

Footwear 

& Tire Tread Sub

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

Wildlife Forensics Sub

Geological Materials Sub

Speaker Recognition Sub 

SAC

Biology/DNA

Quality Infrastructure 

Committee (QIC)

SAC

Physics/Pattern

SAC 

Chemistry/ 

Instrumental Analysis

SAC

IT/Multimedia

SAC

Crime Scene/ 

Death Investigation

Fire Scene and 

Explosives Sub 

Legal Resource 

Committee (LRC)

DNA Analysis Sub2

Human Factors 

Committee (HFC)

Gunshot Residue Sub

Odontology Sub

March 18, 2014 4

www.nist.gov/forensics/upload/orgchart3-18-14-new.pdf
OSAC 

Functional 

Organization 

Chart
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

6
• Deep research expertise underpins technological 

innovation – e.g., new materials, advanced clinical diagnostics 

and therapies, advanced communications, forensic science etc.

• Non-regulatory status enables an important role as a 

convener that facilitates collaboration between agencies of the 

Federal Government, industry, private organizations, and state 

and local governments

Unique Mission within the Federal Government ...

to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by 

advancing 

measurement science, standards, and technology

in ways that enhance economic security and improve our 

quality of life

National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST)

7
NIST as Convener/Facilitator in 

Standards Development

• Convened and formed National Conference on Weights and 

Measures (NCWM) 

– In 1905, the National Bureau of Standards called for a meeting of the states to 

discuss the lack of uniform standards and in many instances, a lack of regulatory 

oversight. The participants decided to meet again the next year marking the birth 

of the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM). 

– Provided standards and guidance for State regulators

– Transitioned NCWM to the private sector

8
NIST as 

Convener/Facilitator 

in Standards 

Development

• Convened and formed Smart Grid 

Interoperability Panel (SGIP)

– The goal of SGIP is to provide a framework for coordinating all 

Smart Grid stakeholders in an effort to accelerate standards 

harmonization and advance the interoperability of Smart Grid 

devices and systems. The public-private partnership, created in 

November 2009.

– SGIP was transitioned to a non-profit, public/private funding 

model in 2013 with the launch of SGIP 2.0.

9
Background: Scientific Working Groups 

(SWGs)

• Some forensic disciplines had their own 

scientific working groups, while others did not

• Some received travel support for their work, 

some did not

• Very little sharing of best practices between 

SWGs, and very few common resources

• Documents that were developed were of 

variable quality and did not share common 

definitions

• Inconsistent training, standards, protocols, ......

10
Individual SWGs vs. Organized Effort

 • • •

funded support

enforceable standards

unified effort

greater influence and impact

11
Organization of Scientific Area 

Committees (OSAC)

• Formerly called “guidance groups”

• Information collected and shared

– SWG chairs (June 18, 2013)

– Notice of Inquiry (Sept 27 to Nov 26, 2013)

– NCFS (Feb 4, 2014)

– AAFS and webcast (Feb 18, 2014)

– ASCLD (May 6, 2014)

– NCFS (May 13, 2014)

http://www.nist.gov/forensics/osac.cfm

12
Notice of Inquiry (NOI) Responses Received

• 82 responses received 

– 12 SWGs commented

– 15 other groups including ASCLD, CAC, CFSO, IAI, Innocence 

Project, NACDL 

– More than a dozen labs and a half dozen companies

– Individuals from 21 states and four countries (UK, Canada, 

Germany, and Australia)

• Public posting of comments on NIST.gov/forensics

• Highlights:

– Practitioner voice should be a major player

– Strongly urged to include all forensic science disciplines

– Concern about funding (no “pay-to-play” fees)

– Interest in consistent and open support for web postings

– Interest in face-to-face and virtual meetings

– Encouragement to include existing professional organizations

In general, the responses support 

the new structure.

13
OSAC Launch

• February 4, 2014 announcement to NCFS

• The OSAC will be a collaborative body of more than 

600 forensic science practitioners and other experts 

who represent all levels of the government, academia 

and industry. 

• Establishing OSAC to strengthen the nation’s use of 

forensic science by:

– supporting the development and promulgation of forensic 

science consensus documentary standards and guidelines

– determining each forensic discipline’s research and 

measurement standards needs

– ensuring that a sufficient scientific basis exists for each 

discipline 

14
OSAC Objective

To create a sustainable uniform 

organizational infrastructure that produces 

consensus documentary standards and 

guidelines to improve quality and 

consistency of work in the forensic science 

community. 

15
National Commission 

on Forensic Science 

(NCFS)

Attorney General

Forensic Science 

Standards Board 

(FSSB)

Organization of 

Scientific Area 

Committees (OSAC)

Limited Term (FACA) Ongoing (Forensic Science 

Quality Infrastructure)

Policy focused

Recommendations

Practice focused

Department of Justice NIST

16
Forensic Science 

Standards Board 

(FSSB)

Organization of 

Scientific Area 

Committees (OSAC)

Ongoing (Forensic Science 

Quality Infrastructure)

Outputs Forensic Science 

Code of Practice

OSAC 

Registry of 

Approved 

Standards 

OSAC 

Registry of 

Approved 

Guidelines

Laboratories

Appropriate ISO/IEC documents 

and discipline-specific approved 

standards and documents

Accreditors

Appropriate ISO/IEC 

documents, e.g. 17011 

Practice focused

NIST

Process & 

technical merit

Technical merit

17
Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC)

SAC = Scientific Area Committee

Sub = Subcommittee

Imaging Technologies Sub

Firearms & Toolmarks 

Sub 

Questioned Documents 

Sub

DNA Analysis Sub1 Controlled Substances Sub Anthropology Sub Facial Identification Sub

Disaster Victim 

Identification Sub Friction Ridge Sub

Fire Debris and Explosives 

Sub (lab)

Materials (Trace) Sub

Medical/Legal Death 

Investigation Sub

Blood Stain Pattern 

Analysis Sub

Toxicology Sub

Dogs and Sensors Sub

Footwear 

& Tire Tread Sub

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

Wildlife Forensics Sub

Geological Materials Sub

Speaker Recognition Sub 

SAC

Biology/DNA

Quality Infrastructure 

Committee (QIC)

SAC

Physics/Pattern

SAC 

Chemistry/ 

Instrumental Analysis

SAC

IT/Multimedia

SAC

Crime Scene/ 

Death Investigation

Fire Scene and 

Explosives Sub 

Legal Resource 

Committee (LRC)

DNA Analysis Sub2

Human Factors 

Committee (HFC)

Gunshot Residue Sub

Odontology Sub

March 18, 2014 18

www.nist.gov/forensics/upload/orgchart3-18-14-new.pdf
OSAC FSSB

• FSSB composed of 17 members including: 

– 5 SAC Chairs

– 6 representatives of professional forensics 

organizations (AAFS, AFTE, ASCLD, IAI, NAME, 

SOFT) 

– 5 Members at large from the research and 

measurement science communities 

– 1 NIST ex-officio

• Initial selection of FSSB will be by NIST-DOJ leadership/membership 

committee

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

19
• LRC composed of up to 10 judges, lawyers, and legal experts who provide 

guidance about the legal ramifications of forensic standards under 

development and input on presentation of forensic results to the legal system

• QIC composed of up to 15 standards experts, quality systems managers, 

laboratory managers, and accreditation and certification specialists who are 

responsible for writing and updating the Forensic Science Code of 

Practice

• HFC composed of up to 10 psychologists, quality systems managers, and 

usability experts who provide guidance on the influence of systems design on 

human performance and on ways to mitigate errors in complex tasks

• Initial selection by NIST-DOJ leadership/membership committee

Human Factors 

Committee (HFC)

Legal Resource 

Committee (LRC)

Quality Infrastructure 

Committee (QIC)

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

OSAC Support

20
Scientific Area Committees (SACs)

• Sets priorities for subcommittee work and 

enables a bigger picture view on topics like report 

wording and statistical analysis

• Recommends (to FSSB) creating, merging or 

abolishing subcommittees

• SAC meetings will be open to the public and 

agendas made available prior to meetings

SAC

Biology/DNA

SAC

Physics/Pattern

SAC 

Chemistry/ 

Instrumental Analysis

SAC

IT/Multimedia

SAC

Crime Scene/ 

Death Investigation

21

SAC = Scientific Area Committee
SAC Membership

• Each SAC is comprised of up to 15 members including: 

– Subcommittee chairs

– Representatives of professional forensic science organizations 

appropriate to the scientific area, examples include:

• American Academy of Forensic Sciences - AAFS,

• Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners - AFTE,

• International Association for Identification - IAI, 

• National Association of Medical Examiners - NAME, 

• Society of Forensics Toxicologists - SOFT

– Researchers

– Measurement scientists (including statisticians, epidemiologists, etc.)

• Note: The Chair of the SAC cannot be a Subcommittee Chair.

• Initial selection of SACs by NIST-DOJ leadership/ 

membership committee

22
SAC Subcommittees

• Develops and vets formal documents to be submitted 

for approval by SAC (in case of guidelines) or SAC & 

FSSB (in case of standards)

• Communicates activities and progress to SACs

• Subcommittee deliberations are not public

Imaging Technologies Sub

Firearms & Toolmarks 

Sub 

Questioned Documents 

Sub

DNA Analysis Sub1 Controlled Substances Sub Anthropology Sub Facial Identification Sub

Disaster Victim 

Identification Sub Friction Ridge Sub

Fire Debris and Explosives 

Sub (lab)

Materials (Trace) Sub

Medical/Legal Death 

Investigation Sub

Blood Stain Pattern 

Analysis Sub

Toxicology Sub

Dogs and Sensors Sub

Footwear 

& Tire Tread Sub

Wildlife Forensics Sub

Geological Materials Sub

Speaker Recognition Sub 

Fire Scene and 

Explosives Sub 

DNA Analysis Sub2

Where the real work will happen

Many aspects and participants may map to current SWGs

Gunshot Residue Sub

Odontology Sub

23
Subcommittee Membership

• Each subcommittee has a maximum membership of 

20 voting members (and up to 5 invited guests per 

meeting) - Distribution goal of:

– 70% practitioner* 

• 20% federal,

• 30% state & local,

• 20% civil or other,

– 20% researchers (statisticians, certification specialists, 

epidemiologists, etc.), and

– 10% R&D technology partners and providers

• Initial Subcommittee members selected by SAC and 

FSSB then reviewed by DOJ/NIST

* Practitioner is defined as someone actively doing or 

managing casework 24
FSSB will Address Subcommittee Waiting 

List

• Forensic Art

• Polygraph

• Forensic Psychiatry

• Forensic Engineering

• Forensic Entomology

• Linguistics Evidence

7/7/2014 25
OSAC Infrastructure

• Web-based infrastructure to manage all 

documents & online balloting/voting

• Enterprise Account to support virtual meetings –

enabling all entities in OSAC to conduct virtual 

business.

• Funding for in-person meetings

• Concept to spin OSAC out of NIST in 3-5 years

– May initially be with funding from NIST to the outside 

entity.

– Must ensure good science and stability
NCFS & OSAC Differences 

NCFS

•Federal Advisory Committee 

that advises the Attorney 

General

•Reports to Attorney General

•Develops policy

•Limited Duration

OSAC

•Not a Federal Advisory 

Committee

•Administered by NIST

•Develops discipline-specific 

practice standards and 

guidelines

•Indefinite Duration

Next NCFS Meeting: August 26-27, 2014 in Washington DC 27
What a NCFS Meeting Looks Like

37 Commissioners + DOJ/NIST Leadership Team 

(Feb 3-4, 2014 with ~100 public attendees) 7/7/2014 28
OSAC Highlights

Creating a quality infrastructure for forensic 

science with a connection to accreditation bodies

• Practitioner generated (forensic scientists)

• Catalog existing SWG documents for continued 

access – must not lose legacy value

• Courtroom connected (legal input)

• Scientifically valid (researchers)

• Standards enforcement (by accrediting bodies)

29
OSAC Vision

What Will OSAC “Success” look like in 5-10 years? *

• Forensic Science practitioners embrace change 

• OSAC Forensic Registries of Standards and Guidelines become 

implemented in the practice of forensic science across all forensic 

disciplines in addition to DNA 

• Prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges begin to use the 

Registries of Standards and Guidelines in direct and cross 

examinations of expert witnesses

• Judges and Juries routinely hear witnesses testify about how their 

analysis met current standards and scientific validity and openly 

describe the limitations of the tests in general and their 

interpretations in the specific case

• Significant forensic science research is finally well organized and 

well funded with influence from OSAC to define research priorities

• Standards enforcement by accrediting bodies finally becomes the 

rule rather than the exception

30
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

31
17 

Members 

Total

FSSB Roles & Responsibilities (1)

Oversees SAC, Subcommittee and Resource Committee Operations

AUTHORITY

MAJOR DUTIES

MEMBERSHIP

1. Approves of standards for inclusion in the 

OSAC Registry of Approved Standards

2. Maintains OSAC Bylaws and Operations 

Manual

3. Manages the appeals process for 

unresolved comment adjudication and 

membership matters

4. Ensures communication flow among 

SACs, the Forensic Science Standards 

Board and the forensic science 

community

5. Develops and updates balance 

requirements and other membership 

rules and processes, including the length 

of membership terms and possible 

creation of term limits

6. Liaise with Human Factors, Legal and 

Quality Infrastructure Committees 

5 SAC Chairs 6 Professional Association Representatives 5 At large members 1 NIST Ex-Officio 32
FSSB Roles & Responsibilities (2)

• Website: 

http://www.nist.gov/forensics/osacroles.cfm#F
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

34
Time Commitment of FSSB Board Members

• Quarterly meetings – may be virtual (1-2 days)

• Periodic virtual meetings to address pending 

issues (hours)

• Time commitment to review standards & other 

documents that require FSSB vote
Time Commitment of SAC Chairs 

• FSSB Board time commitments

• Two in-person SAC meetings

• Periodic virtual meetings to conduct SAC 

business

• Option to attend subcommittee meetings

• Time commitments to review guidelines, 

standards and other documents that require 

SAC vote
# of Volunteers & Terms

• Self-nomination process:

– 3 Committees (approximately 35 people)

– 5 SACs – (approximately 75 people)

– 23 Subcommittees (approximately 400+ people)

• OSAC needs between 500 and 600 subject 

matter experts representing a balance of 

experience and perspectives to serve on OSAC. 

• OSAC terms are for three years, although the initial 

appointees will serve terms of two, three or four 

years so that subsequent members are appointed 

on a staggered basis.

http://www.nist.gov/forensics/osacroles.cfm

https://www.nist.gov/forensics/osac-application.cfm 37
Alaska

Hawaii

OSAC Applicants 

as of 12 May 2014

357 state govt

331 local govt

234 federal govt

223 private

154 academic

 14 FFRDC

 56 non-U.S.

Other countries (21 total; 56 individuals)

Australia (10)

Bangladesh (1)

Belarus (1)

Bosnia (1)

Brazil (1)

Canada (17)

China (1)

France (1)

Germany (2)

Israel (2)

Italy (1)

Korea (1)

Malaysia (1)

Nepal (1)

The Netherlands (1)

New Zealand (1)

Peru (1)

Singapore (2)

Switzerland (1)

Taiwan (1)

UK (8)

Puerto Rico

All 50 states 

represented
Academic

Federal

Government

FFRDC

Local Government

Private Sector

State Government

Background of OSAC Applicants 

(as of 12 May 2014)

12 %

Academic

18 %

Federal govt

27 %

State govt

25 %

Local govt

FFRDC = Federally-funded 

research and development center

Employer Classification

1313 total

17 %

Private 

sector
Attorney

Educator/Trainer

Judge

Other

Practitioner

Quality Assurance Manager

R&D Technology Partner

Researcher

Background of OSAC Applicants 

(as of 12 May 2014)

8 %

8 %

2 %

65 %

“practitioner”

Job Classification

# statisticians (ASA) = 25

11 %

“researcher”

4 %

1313 total
OSAC Application Count by Primary Selection

SAC = Scientific Area Committee

Sub = Subcommittee

Imaging Technologies Sub

Firearms & Toolmarks 

Sub 

Questioned Documents 

Sub

DNA Analysis Sub1 Controlled Substances Sub Anthropology Sub Facial Identification Sub

Disaster Victim 

Identification Sub Friction Ridge Sub

Fire Debris and Explosives 

Sub (lab)

Materials (Trace) Sub

Medical/Legal Death 

Investigation Sub

Blood Stain Pattern 

Analysis Sub

Toxicology Sub

Dogs and Sensors Sub

Footwear 

& Tire Tread Sub

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

Wildlife Forensics Sub

Geological Materials Sub

Speaker Recognition Sub 

SAC

Biology/DNA

Quality Infrastructure 

Committee (QIC)

SAC

Physics/Pattern

SAC 

Chemistry/ 

Instrumental Analysis

SAC

IT/Multimedia

SAC

Crime Scene/ 

Death Investigation

Fire Scene and 

Explosives Sub 

Legal Resource 

Committee (LRC)

DNA Analysis Sub2

Human Factors 

Committee (HFC)

Gunshot Residue Sub

Odontology Sub

1,313 Applicants and their primary selections as of May 12, 2014

42 86 13

64 65 73 24 48

73

79

17

78

42

8

24

46

58

22

19

21

17

56

29

32

22

30

22

71

58

24

50
OSAC Applicants: Professional Associations
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

43
Implementation Timeline

• Online application form launched April 11, 2014 – closed 

May 11, 2014

• FSSB appointed – June 26, 2014

• FSSB virtual meeting – July 7, 2014

• Appoint HFC, LRC & QIC - July 15, 2014

• FSSB in-person meeting – August 7, 2014

• Appoint SAC membership - August 2014

• First SAC meetings to select subcommittee membership -

mid-late September 2014

• FSSB virtual meeting to vote on subcommittee rosters –

early October 2014

• Appoint Subcommittee Members - October 2014

• Hold in-person subcommittee meetings - January 2015

• Hold Public SAC Meetings at AAFS - Feb 16 -17, 2015

44
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

45
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

47
Key OSAC Outputs

OSAC Outputs

Laboratories

• ISO/IEC 17025 or ISO/IEC 

15189

• Other relevant documents

• OSAC Approved Standards 

and Guidelines

Accreditors

ISO/IEC 17011 and other 

related documents Organization of 

Scientific Area 

Committees 

(OSAC)

Forensic Science 

Code of Practice

OSAC 

Registry of 

Approved 

Standards

OSAC 

Registry of 

Approved 

Guidelines

48
Documents the minimum requirements for: 

1. Standards and guidelines used in forensic 

science

2. Accreditation of laboratories and investigative 

units supplying forensic science services

Discipline specific requirements to supplement 

international standards developed in a consensus

3. Competencies of forensic science practitioners

Implemented in forensic science service organizations’ 

management systems

Forensic Science Code of Practice

49
Documentary standards and guidelines that have 

demonstrated:

1. Technical merit

• Detailed Scope

• Examination of fitness for purpose

• Consideration of uncertainty measurement and potential bias

• Method validation, as appropriate

2. Reasonable standards development process

• Due Process

• Consensus

• Openness

• Transparency

• Freedom from undue influence

• Balance of interests

OSAC Registries of Approved Standards 

and Guidelines

Registry Sources: 

1. An existing standard developed 

using approved processes

2. Catalyzed with an existing SDOs

3. Developed by OSAC using 

canvass method 50
Approved Standards vs Guidelines

OSAC Registry of Approved 

Standards

OSAC Registry of Approved 

Guidelines

Mandatory Language Non-Mandatory Language

Consensus-Driven

Consensus-Driven

Standard

• Specifies uniform methods, 

actions, practices, or 

processes, protocol

• Compliance should be 

mandatory and modified 

only under unusual 

circumstances

Guideline

• Suggested methods, actions, 

practices, or processes to 

consider in absence of 

applicable standards

• Best practices that are 

strongly recommended but 

not required

51
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

52
FSSB Officers Discussion

• Will appoint FSSB Officers during August 7th

Meeting.

– Chair

– Vice Chair

– Executive Secretary

• Please email us if you are interested in or wish to 

recommend other FSSB members for any of these 

positions.
Agenda

• FSSB Introductions

• OSAC Overview, Mission and Vision

• FSSB Roles & Responsibilities

• Anticipated Time Commitments of FSSB Members

• Implementation Timeline

• Pending Contract Actions at NIST

• General Process for Approving Standards

• FSSB Officers Discussion

• Priority Areas for FSSB to Address in the Future

54
Future Priority Areas for FSSB to Address

• New Subcommittees (forensic disciplines)

• Expanding Current Subcommittees – should 

Materials (Trace) Subcommittee be broken into 

two subcommittees (20 members each)

• Term Limits for OSAC Members

• Need Picture & 100 word bios for OSAC website
Questions?

Mark D. Stolorow

John Paul Jones II

Karen Reczek

National Institute of Standards and Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Mailstop 8102

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

www.nist.gov/forensics 56
Creating a Standard or Guideline

SAC = Scientific Area Committee

Sub = Subcommittee

Imaging Technologies Sub

Firearms & Toolmarks 

Sub 

Questioned Documents 

Sub

DNA Analysis Sub1 Controlled Substances Sub Anthropology Sub Facial Identification Sub

Disaster Victim 

Identification Sub Friction Ridge Sub

Fire Debris and Explosives 

Sub (lab)

Materials (Trace) Sub

Medical/Legal Death 

Investigation Sub

Blood Stain Pattern 

Analysis Sub

Toxicology Sub

Dogs and Sensors Sub

Footwear 

& Tire Tread Sub

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

Wildlife Forensics Sub

Geological Materials Sub

Speaker Recognition Sub 

SAC

Biology/DNA

Quality Infrastructure 

Committee (QIC)

SAC

Physics/Pattern

SAC 

Chemistry/ 

Instrumental Analysis

SAC

IT/Multimedia

SAC

Crime Scene/ 

Death Investigation

Fire Scene and 

Explosives Sub 

Legal Resource 

Committee (LRC)

DNA Analysis Sub2

Human Factors 

Committee (HFC)

Gunshot Residue Sub

Odontology Sub

March 18, 2014 57

www.nist.gov/forensics/upload/orgchart3-18-14-new.pdf