Title: 1) Chair of the Scene Examination Scientific Area Committee and Member of the Forensic Science Standards Board; 2) Forensics Division Commander
Company: 1) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science 2) Denton Police Department
Location: Frisco, Texas, United States
Michael Kessler, Chair of the Scene Examination Scientific Area Committee and member of the Forensic Science Standards Board at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Organization of Scientific Area Committees, Chair of the American Academy of Forensic Science’s Academy Standards Board Crime Scene Investigation Consensus Body, and Commander of the Forensics Division of the Denton Police Department has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Scientists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in forensic science.
With a diverse and extensive career spanning more than two decades and multiple disciplines within forensic science, Mr. Kessler has made significant contributions to the field. Since 2018, he has served as chair of the Scene Examination Scientific Area Committee and as a member of the Forensic Science Standards Board at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Concurrently, he holds the position of Forensics Manager at the Denton Police Department. His educational background includes earning a Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science from Florida International University in 2018, a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a focus on forensics from the American Public University System in 2011, and an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice with a specialization in police science from Holyoke Community College in 2001. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and has maintained the credential as a Certified Crime Scene Analyst with the International Association for Identification in addition to being a member of many professional forensic science organizations.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kessler has held a multitude of roles. Currently, he serves as chair of the Scene Examination Scientific Area Committee and as a member of the Forensic Science Standards Board at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science since 2021. Prior to these appointments, he excelled as director of crime scene investigation and reconstruction at Forensic Veterinary Investigations, LLC, from 2022 to the present. Notably, he has been actively involved in various leadership positions, including chair of the Crime Scene Investigation Consensus Body at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences’ Academy Standards Board since 2020. He has led and conducted scene investigations supporting law enforcement and intelligence operations in the United States and around the world. Throughout that time, he has been recognized as an expert in international, Federal, and State courts. These investigations have included high-profile international terrorism investigations, crimes against persons, financial crimes, internal affairs, and volume/property crimes.
Mr. Kessler has contributed significantly to academia, currently serving as an Adjunct Lecturer – and previously as a Research Project Manager – at the Global Forensic and Justice Center, Florida International University, since 2019. His extensive career also includes roles such as treasurer at the Texas Division of the International Association for Identification and Member of the Crime Scene Investigation Science and Practice Subcommittee at the International Association for Identification. His diverse experience encompasses positions ranging from senior subject matter expert at ANDE to lead instructor at NEK Advanced Securities Group, Inc., demonstrating his depth of knowledge and leadership in the field. He also serves as a member of the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Forensic Identification and peer reviewer for the Journal of Forensic Sciences and Forensic Science International: Synergy.
Mr. Kessler’s notable achievements include being handpicked by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences to establish a consensus body focused on crime scene investigation, a role he has held since 2020. Additionally, he co-authored the handbook “Five Eyes Forensic and Technical Exploitation,” which has been widely utilized by law enforcement and intelligence entities across the globe as the foundation to inform policy, doctrine, training, and operations in forensic science. He finds deep satisfaction in reestablishing the prominence of science within non-laboratory disciplines and views it as a way to give back to those who influenced him. Looking ahead, he plans to pursue a doctorate and remains open to establishing his own consulting firm. With his dedication to advancing the field of forensic science and his commitment to education and mentorship, Mr. Kessler continues to make a lasting impact in his industry.
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