Biography

Brian Gestring is a consultant with 4n6Services and a forensic scientist with over 30 years of experience, having worked as both a practitioner and academic. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and certified by the International Association for Identification as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst.

Over his career, Brian has held nearly every role from scene investigator to director, performing casework in crime scene processing, reconstruction, death investigation, forensic photography, serology, DNA, and trace evidence, testifying for both the prosecution and defense.

As an educator, Brian has been an Assistant and Associate Professor, teaching undergraduate and graduate forensic science coursework and directing a university forensic science program. He has also been a site evaluator for the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission since its inception and is a past president of the Council on Forensic Science Education.

Brian was part of the initial response to the attack on the World Trade Center, working on identifying victims of the attack. He has also supervised and managed some of the largest and busiest crime laboratories in the country, managed New York State’s forensic laboratory accreditation program, and co-administered the New York State DNA database.

He developed the first statewide approach to crime laboratory backlog and has taught workshops and webinars sharing strategies for effective backlog reduction to forensic scientists across the country. Brian has also taught workshops to forensic scientists and members of federal, state, and local law enforcement on bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic photography, crime scene reconstruction, and incorporating quality assurance and control into the crime scene.

Brian testified in the first use of partial DNA match in New York State and coordinated the approval process for New York State’s familial DNA search program, which has already been successful in identifying suspects in long cold cases. He also oversaw the development of the State’s Forensic Laboratory Report Standardization project, currently the only statewide standardization of forensic laboratory reports in the country.

Forensic practice can play an important part in mitigating the shortcomings of the criminal justice system, but only when performed reliably. Throughout his career, Brian has focused on improving quality in forensic practice and has served on forensic oversight committees and state forensic science commissions. He has presented on quality and reliability issues to national meetings of forensic scientists, crime laboratory directors, and quality assurance professionals and continues to publish forensic science policy identifying potential weaknesses and suggesting solutions.