AFMES Overview

JOHN M. Martin23 September 2015

Mission of the AFMES Provides comprehensive and

innovative medico-legal services worldwide

Impartial; Objective ; Authoritative and Scientific determination of cause/manner of death and identification of decedents (10 USC 1471)

1st & only Forensic PathologyFellowship in DoD at AFIP

1961 1963

Kennedy Autopsy done by military general pathologists

1988Authority: DoDD 6010.16

Establishment of AFMES and location

at AFIP

Death of Ron Brown (SEC Commerce) 10 USC 1471 enacted

Army DOD EA; AFMES moves to Dover AFB

1999Authority: 10 USC 1471 gives statutory authority and jurisdictional authority and makes AFMES responsible to SECDEF

1967

Apollo I Explodes

1978

Jonestown Mass Suicide

1985

Fatal Air Crash Newfoundland

1986

Challenger Loss

2001 2015DHA

9/11 and OEF

2003

OIF

2005AFIP BRAC

2010

DoDIGFindings

1996

ASD/HA

SECARMY

Armed Forces Medical Examiner System

USAMRMC

OSD

Army SG

(Policy Authority, Direction, Control) (Operational Support & Administrative Oversight)

10 USC 1471; DTM 12-001 (DoDD 5154.30)

ASD/HA

DHA

Armed Forces Medical Examiner System

OSD

RDA

(Policy Authority, Direction Control)

(Operations Support & Administrative Oversight)

10 USC 1471; DTM 12-001 (DoDD 5154.30)

Director,Armed Forces Medical Examiner System

Chief Of Staff

S-1 through S-8PAO,

Legal, & Safety

DoD DNA Registry

Forensic Toxicology

OAFME

Resources:Funding (FY 15): DHP: $20.7M OMA(DNA): $12.72M Lab Programs: $2.5M OMA (CNP): $3.97M OCO: $0.0K Reimburse: $246K OPA: $0.0K OMA QPSM) $85K

TOTAL: $40.22M

FTEs (Rqd/ Auth/ Assigned): MIL 57/56/37 (incl 4 TDY) CIV 53/ 53/55 CTR Not on FY 15 TDA (167) TOT: 110/109/259 (incl CTRs)

OAFME

Functions:• Provide comprehensive forensic pathology

investigations worldwide IAW 10 USC 1471

• Responsive to no-notice missions worldwide

• Determine cause & manner of death

• Identify decedent

• Provide information to improve survivability

• Conduct mortality surveillance on all Active Duty U.S. Service Members

• Train fellows, residents, medical students and mortuary affairs specialists

Stakeholders:• Families of the decedents

• DoD Leadership, Combatant Commanders, Local Commanders, Surgeon Generals

• Investigative agencies, safety boards, 15-6 investigators

• FBI, NTSB, DoJ, other federal agencies

• Combat casualty care providers, Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat, Institute of Surgical Research, Defense Suicide Prevention Office

The ONLY Federal Medical Examiner System

DoD DNA Registry

Functions:• Collection and storage of DNA reference

specimens of current military, and other designated individuals (AFRSSIR) IAW DEPSECDEF memo 16 Dec 1991: Establishment of a Repository of Specimen Samples to Aid in Remains Identification Using Genetic Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Analysis

• Provide laboratory operations for processing of specimens and references for human remains identification (AFDIL)

• Produce comparison reports for use by JPAC and Medical Examiners for authoritative identification of decedents

• Provide laboratory operations for current and past conflict personnel accounting

• Research

Stakeholders:• Families of decedents• OAFME• DPAA• National Security Intelligence and Law

Enforcement• Other Federal Agencies as requested

Forensic Toxicology

Functions:• DoD centralized laboratory which performs

routine and specialized toxicological analysis on military aircraft, ground and ship incidents, with and without fatalities.

• Forensic toxicology support for criminal investigations conducted by AFOSI, CID and NCIS.

• Alcohol and drug tests for medicolegal (sexual assault, DUI, suicide) determinations.

• Quality assurance, certification and inspection services for the DoD Drug Demand Reduction Program.

• Selected cases of national and international interest.

Stakeholders:• Armed Forces Medical Examiners

- Full service post mortem toxicology

• Drug Demand Reduction Program/Labs- Provide QA/QC support through proficiency

specimens, inspections, prevalence testing and surveillance (DoDI 1010.16/ DoDD 1010.01))

- Provide a technical evaluation and method development capability

• Military Working Dog Kennels World Wide- Provide K-9 training aides for the 200 services kennels

• Services JAG Corps- Deliver expert witness support at legal proceedings- Provide DFSA toxicology training

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6cMsXBJ0Y98

AFMES Authority

Authority Document Description

Title 10 USC, Chapter 75, §1471Authorizes AFMES to conduct forensic pathology investigations in specified circumstances under regulations prescribed by SECDEF

Title 10 USC, Chapter 76, §§ 1501-1513 “Accounting for Missing Persons”

Pending statutory change (Nugent Amendment) makes an ME from the AFMES DoD scientific identification authority for past conflict accounting cases (§1509)

NDAA 2010, Section 541(d)(2)

“Accounting for Goal.” Directs SECDEF to allocate funds and resources sufficient to make 200 identifications missing persons per year beginning FY2015. Impacts AFDIL funding and thru-put

Title 10 USC, Chapter 80, §1565a DNA Identification Information: Collection from Certain Offenders and Use

Restricts release of samples maintained for identification from AF DNA Repository to specified criteria. Requires specific findings and court order from federal or military judge

DoDD 5154.24 (AFIP, 2001)

Enclosure 2 covers AFMES. Draft DoDD 5154.24E held at Stage 4c (legal sufficiency review) pending AFMES migration. But see SECDEF Action Memo 15DEC12 approving recommendation that AFMES DoDD be published while continuing DHA integration

Current