Simple solutions for detecting drugs, explosives and bio-agents in the field

Since 2001, Field Forensics, Inc., has provided law enforcement and soldiers with chemical detection tools to easily identify a wide variety of threats. Fiel

d Forensics’ simple colorimetric tests quickly indicate if a compound is an explosive chemical, hazardous bio-agent or an illicit drug.

The red stain on an ELITE™ test card indicates presence of the chemical compound in question.

The company’s founder, Craig Johnson, has been involved in the sensor and detection business for more than three decades. He’s constructed radiation monitoring systems, worked on anti-terrorist efforts at military research facilities, and even built the Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectrometer, a tool that peers inside thick steel munitions to determine whether chemicals such as mustard gas or nerve agents are present.

But providing detection technology in small, hand-held devices is key to providing the rapid intelligence that’s required in today’s field operations.

“One of our biggest customers has been the Afghan National Police,” said Johnson. “In 2010, President Hamid Karzai banned ammonium nitrate in Afghanistan. It’s a fertilizer, but it can also easily be used to make a home-made explosive. A large number of our soldiers’ injuries and deaths have been due to explosives made from ammonium nitrate.”

In response to this threat, Field Forensics developed the hand-held IDEX™ test kit that provides users with a way to conduct one-step tests for ammonium. Since that time, the company has sent hundreds of thousands of kits into Afghanistan so soldiers can identify explosive precursors – before they can be made into bombs.

“These simple kits can also be used to detect peroxides. This is particularly important for law enforcement,” said Johnson. “Drug dealers who run meth labs commonly booby trap labs to be able to quickly get rid of evidence. Our devices give police a rapid method of testing for explosives and then for drugs.”

As a partner in the Forensic Innovation Center (FIC), Field Forensics provides agencies with novel, real-world solutions for today’s detection needs. For cash-strapped agencies, these presumptive kits equip forces with effective technology at a fraction of the price of advanced hand-held Raman spectroscopy or Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) detectors.

Field Forensics, Inc. (FFI) is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. FFI is a developer and manufacturer of forensics sampling and identification devices for law enforcement, homeland security and military customers. FFI has fielded several product lines that address field chemical extraction, explosives detection and substance identification, explosives screening, covert ops, HUMINT and source handling; research and development in these and related technologies are underway.

Creating a Leaner, More Productive Crime Laboratory

As one of the pioneers of forensic DNA analysis in the late 80’s in the U.K., Richard Pinchin, a director of Forensic Knowledge Partne

rship (FKP), has been at the forefront of forensic science for several decades. But these days he’s not looking at breakthrough new technologies we could apply, but rather how we apply them.

“Since the advent of DNA, agencies have invested an incredible amount of money in technology and equipment,” said Pinchin. “But now it’s all about doing more with what we’ve already got. People are used to buying technology, but few people are looking internally at their processes to find efficiencies.”

Considering the budgetary pressures most law enforcement agencies are currently experiencing, finding and implementing efficiencies may be key to weathering the current crisis. The National Institute of Justice’s recent special report, Strategic Cutback Management: Law Enforcement Leadership for Lean Times, advises law enforcement to “use the crisis to improve management and improve productivity.”

To help identify and eliminate waste in crime laboratories, Pinchin and his business partner, Stephen Burrows developed a framework called Productive Crime Laboratory™. It leverages process-improvement methods applied at the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) and puts them to work in the context of a forensic laboratory.

When these efficiencies were implemented at the NHS, the return on investment was eye-popping.

“What we found in healthcare was that there was an eight-fold return on every dollar invested,” said Pinchin.

The Productive Crime Laboratory™ framework employs Lean Methodologies to get dramatically improved productivity from the resources an agency already has on hand. Labs cut out wasteful steps that aren’t adding value so they can be more productive without spending any more money.

In addition to improving the bottom line by implementing Lean processes, laboratories can boost morale, reduce sick days and improve job satisfaction.

As a teaming partner in the Forensic Innovation Center (FIC), FKP provides unique international expertise that can be leveraged to provide Federal, State and local agencies with the capability to reduce backlogs, enhance capacity and reduce turnaround times. Considering the tremendous pressures agencies worldwide are under to provide more with less, FKP’s Productive Crime Laboratory™ model may just be the next innovative leap labs employ to improve operations.

FKP Inc. is a professional services company specializing in forensic science consultancy dedicated to supporting US law enforcement agencies. The Directors of FKP draw on over 40 years of forensic science experience to meet the increasing demand for leading-edge expertise and knowledge in forensic science. FKP Inc. is committed to providing assistance to the expanding US law enforcement sector by acting in partnership with forensic science providers and legislative contacts to solve current and future issues.

“After retiring from the Navy, I went back to get a formal education in instructional design and delivery,” says Ashton. “Understanding how to properly train military personnel increases trainee retention as well as their chances of success.”

With 27 years of Navy experience in IEDs and explosives, Ashton’s current challenges include making sure that the training provided reaches the troops at the right time and with the right information. IEDs are changing every day, so scenarios and examples must be fresh from operational theaters to the training facility.

“It’s like a chess game: the bad guys develop something new to stop us, we figure it out, then they change tactics. Our goal is to make sure that the first time one of our students sees a particular device should not be when he’s out there on target.”

Current battlefield forensics knowledge is being delivered via just-in-time training. When new equipment is issued to special forces, Garry takes the training to them, sometimes just days before deployment. This increases understanding, prevents breakage and makes sure the equipment is used. “The just-in-time training is rewarding,” says Ashton. “These guys are smart. They get hands on with the tools and are able to integrate it into their tactics right away.”

Training Team Solutions (TTS) is service-disabled veteran-owned small business incorporated in 1996 and headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Training Team Solutions integrates new and innovative technologies and teaching methodologies into proven adult learning systems to ensure each training product is one everyone wants to attend to improve personal performance, enhance organizational services and achieve quality goals.

Dusting for prints during site exploitation exercise

FIC partners NFSTC, Training Team Solutions and the High Tech Crime Institute collaborated to bring the Forensics and Biometrics Internship program to 12 Army Reserve Officers’’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from across the country. Hosted by NFSTC and coordinated by Garry Ashton of Training Team Solutions, this program delivered two-weeks of hands-on forensic and site exploitation training at NFSTC’s Largo, FL facility at no cost to the cadets.

Examining and comparing tool marks

The goal of this program, now it its fourth year, is to help cadets understand how the U.S. military uses forensic science to gather intelligence. To achieve this, cadets participated in demonstrations and exercises designed to build foundational knowledge in crime scene investigation, photography, biological screening, improvised explosive device awareness, post-blast investigation, trace chemistry, firearms examination, fingerprinting, and basic digital forensics. The program reinforces skills vital for a successful military career such as critical thinking, teamwork and leadership.

Examining clothing for biological material using ALS

The program culminated with practical, scenario-based site exploitation exercises drawn from real-world battlefield experiences. These exercises exposed the cadets to tactical competencies including determining primary and secondary mission objectives, making decisions and prioritizing actions under pressure, understanding the probative value of evidence, managing detainees during a forensic search, and tactics for thoroughly documenting and searching a target site.

Practicing with AK47s in the mobile firing range

This year’s program received a visit from Deputy Commanding General, Colonel Peggy Combs, from the U.S. Army Cadet Command. The colonel came to observe the cadets in action and get a feel for the value of the training to the overall ROTC program.

After spending time with the cadets, Lothridge said, “We’re fortunate to be able to offer this program; it’s unique and it’s visionary. This is an opportunity to engage future leaders at the beginning of their careers. These folks, if they choose intelligence, chemical or military police roles, will already have a foundation in forensics; skills that will prove invaluable in the field.”

Visit the ROTC Forensics and Biometrics Internship photo gallery on NFSTC’s Facebook page to see the cadets as they progressed through the program.

Col. Peggy Combs (far left) pauses for a picture with the 2012 NFSTC forensic internship cadet class

Format

Dusting for prints during site exploitation exerciseFIC partners NFSTC, Training Team Solutions and the High Tech Crime Institute collaborated to bring the Forensics and Biometrics Internship program to 12 Army Reserve Officers’’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from across the country. Hosted by NFSTC and coordinated by Garry Ashton of Training Team Solutions, this program delivered two-weeks of hands-on forensic and site exploitation training at NFSTC’s Largo, FL facility at no cost to the cadets.

Examining and comparing tool marks The goal of this program, now it its fourth year, is to help cadets understand how the U.S. military uses forensic science to gather intelligence. To achieve this, cadets participated in demonstrations and exercises designed to build foundational knowledge in crime scene investigation, photography, biological screening, improvised explosive device awareness, post-blast investigation, trace chemistry, firearms examination, fingerprinting, and basic digital forensics. The program reinforces skills vital for a successful military career such as critical thinking, teamwork and leadership.

Examining clothing for biological material using ALSThe program culminated with practical, scenario-based site exploitation exercises drawn from real-world battlefield experiences. These exercises exposed the cadets to tactical competencies including determining primary and secondary mission objectives, making decisions and prioritizing actions under pressure, understanding the probative value of evidence, managing detainees during a forensic search, and tactics for thoroughly documenting and searching a target site.

Practicing with AK47s in the mobile firing rangeThis year’s program received a visit from Deputy Commanding General, Colonel Peggy Combs, from the U.S. Army Cadet Command. The colonel came to observe the cadets in action and get a feel for the value of the training to the overall ROTC program.
After spending time with the cadets, Lothridge said, “We’re fortunate to be able to offer this program; it’s unique and it’s visionary. This is an opportunity to engage future leaders at the beginning of their careers. These folks, if they choose intelligence, chemical or military police roles, will already have a foundation in forensics; skills that will prove invaluable in the field.”
Visit the ROTC Forensics and Biometrics Internship photo gallery on NFSTC’s Facebook page to see the cadets as they progressed through the program.

Col. Peggy Combs (far left) pauses for a picture with the 2012 NFSTC forensic internship cadet class
Path:

This year, students participated in a mini-course on crime scene photography and the High Tech Crime Institute presented information about cell phone forensics. The tours culminated with several hands-on exercises in which the students learned to document the crime scene and evidence. The scenarios included:

• Inspecting a vehicle at a border checkpoint

• Investigating a breaking and entering

• Documenting a clandestine lab

“Gaining a solid footing in science and math is critical for so many reasons. Jobs are going high-tech; take DNA or cybercrime for example,” says Kevin Lothridge, CEO of NFSTC. “The key to getting these kids interested in science is not scaring them with how complex an activity might be, it is getting them engaged, and that’s what we are doing with this event. And with so many new technologies on the horizon, opportunities for exciting careers will only grow.”

The STEM TEC program, developed by Junior Achievement and WorkNet Pinellas, provides career exploration and workplace readiness training to economically disadvantaged students through a four-week summer program and year-round engagements. The program includes employer site visits to gain job shadowing experience in STEM specific fields.

For more information on the STEM TEC program, visit www.worknetpinellas.org.

“Many companies that explore the idea to get a facility clearance become intimidated by the process or aren’t aware of the details and potential pitfalls,” says Kevin Lothridge, CEO. “We can leverage our experience to guide them through the process at any level. It can build a lot of confidence in a newly cleared company and provide our government with knowledgeable and qualified contractors for our country’s security.”

David Touchton, NFSTC’s FSO and coordinator of this new initiative, has received recognition as an Industrial Security Professional (ISP) from the National Classification Management Society.

“It’s so important to get it right with your facility clearance details,” says Touchton. “An organization’s clearance can be revoked if it is not carefully maintained. That can affect not only the company, but our country’s access to great technology and innovation.”

For more information, contact us at ask@the-fic.com.

Read the full story here: http://www.floridainnovationhub.ufl.edu/

NFSTC and the Forensic Innovation Center provide opportunities for companies to work together to provide effecient and effective forensic services to Federal, State and local stakeholders across the country.

NFSTC and the Forensic Innovation Center honor those lost in the tragedy of 9/11, the victims, the heroes and the families and friends left to wonder why.  We rededicate our organization to increasing public safety for all Americans through science and teamwork. Take a moment on Sunday, September 11, to remember.

Alakai, located in Largo, Fla., is a high-technology, veteran-owned small business engaged in science & technology and research & development of advanced laser and electro-optical sensors for the defense and security sectors. Their instruments detect explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices, the number one killer of soldiers today. They have expanded into detection of chemical warfare agents, biological agents, radiological and nuclear materials.

See the whole story here: http://madduxpress.com/2010/11/16/tampa-bay-technology-forum-announces-winners-of-the-7th-annual-industry-achievement-awards-14715

Congratulations to the Alakai team for their acheivement!