Message from the Director of Laboratory Services
Updated: February 5, 2007
The ATF Laboratories have a distinguished history that dates back to 1886. From two scientists working in the attic of the Treasury building, we have grown to a staff of over 100 professionals working in four laboratories in three cities.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 the ATF Laboratories:
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analyzed 64 samples related to alcohol and tobacco diversion;
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processed 3086 forensic cases;
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spent 171 days providing expert testimony in the courts;
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spent 242 days at crime scenes; and
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spent 371 days providing training to Federal, State and local investigators and examiners.
ATF is the premier laboratory in the world in the combined areas of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, and fire debris analysis. Our dedication to this is evident in the Mission, Vision, and Values statements created by our staff in 1992. The Office of Laboratory Services is also proud of the important part it plays in supporting the Bureau's strategic goals of reducing violent crime and protecting the public. Congressional funding of a new National Laboratory Center in suburban Maryland recognized our success. The new $135 million Laboratory was dedicated on June 16, 2003. The National Laboratory Center also contains a unique fire testing facility. This facility is designed to support fire investigations by allowing our fire scientists to recreate the fire under controlled conditions. In FY 2006, 86 fire investigation cases were processed.
The expansion and redesign of the ATF Laboratories in Atlanta and San Francisco is underway. These projects will lead to additional space and greater efficiency in each of these Laboratories. The Atlanta project is scheduled for completion in early FY 2007, with the San Francisco project following in late FY 2007.
Each ATF Laboratory also has a mobile laboratory that is designed to support examination of evidence at the scene of a fire or explosion. In FY 2005 these Rapid Response Laboratories were deployed several times in support of ATF field operations.
Finally, in FY 2006 we established a DNA analysis capability at the National Laboratory Center. The staff was hired and the equipment was installed. After external accreditation is approved, the laboratory should begin accepting cases in the spring of 2007.
Technical excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement have been the hallmarks of the ATF Laboratories since 1886. We will continue to work hard to build upon this success in this, our third century of public service.
Michael W. Ethridge
Director, Laboratory Services
E-mail: ATFLabs@atf.gov