Photo By Seaman Lawrence Whaley III | Kristin Bukovec, laboratory quality manager at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency,...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii –
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has successfully renewed its accreditation from the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to the highest standards of scientific excellence in its mission to account for America’s missing personnel.
“We are accredited to what’s called ISO/IEC 17025, which is the international gold standard for testing laboratories,” explained Kristin Bukovec, a DPAA laboratory quality manager. “This ensures our work is conducted with rigor, reliability, and consistency every time.”
Bukovec oversees DPAA’s adherence to national standards of scientific practice and leads the accreditation process when ANAB teams conduct their assessments. The accreditation process, which takes place every four years with annual reviews, involves a team of four to eight expert assessors who evaluate more than 400 requirements. These include compliance with both ANAB standards and DPAA’s own standard operating procedures. Assessors review everything from daily scientific activities to case files, reports, and laboratory records.
“This accreditation represents the gold standard for forensic laboratories worldwide, and we are proud to have achieved this distinction for another four years,” said Dr. John Byrd, DPAA Scientific Analysis director, who oversees the DPAA labs in Hawaii and Nebraska. “It reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and scientific integrity.”
The latest renewal process spanned May through July 2025, culminating in DPAA receiving its certificates of accreditation in late July.
DPAA’s laboratories in Hawaii and Nebraska make up the world’s largest forensic anthropology enterprise dedicated to identifying unaccounted-for U.S. personnel. With more than 150 anthropologists, archaeologists, forensic odontologists, and support staff, these teams employ advanced scientific methods to analyze human remains, dental evidence, and material artifacts such as uniforms, dog tags, and personal effects. All evidence is carefully handled under secure chain-of-custody protocols before analysis by subject-matter experts.
Accreditation not only distinguishes DPAA among its global peers but also strengthens trust in the agency’s work. “Intrinsically, it provides families with confidence in what we do,” Bukovec said. “They can know, without question, that the work we deliver is reliable and held to the highest standard.”
Byrd added, “We understand the profound importance of our work to the families we serve, and we remain dedicated to honoring that trust.”
DPAA Director Kelly McKeague underscored this dedication during the recent Korean/Cold War Annual Government Briefings:
“Just like you aren’t stopping, just like you are doggedly determined to find those answers that you longingly deserve—so are each and every one of us.”
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2025 17:10 |
| Story ID: | 548222 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DPAA Laboratories renews accreditation, by SN Lawrence Whaley III, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
