Dr. Curt E. Harper has over 16 years of experience as a Forensic Toxicologist. He was appointed
Chief Toxicologist for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) in 2012. As Chief
Toxicologist, he oversees technical operations, method development and validation, and the quality
assurance/quality control program. He manages productivity, serves as training coordinator, and develops
and maintains standard operating procedures. Dr. Harper has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology
and a Master’s of Science in Forensic Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds
board certification as a Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (F- ABFT) and serves as
Chair of the Oral Fluid Committee and former Chair of the SOFT/AAFS Drugs and Driving. In addition,
he acts as a President of the International Association for Chemical Testing (IACT) and an Executive
Board member of the National Safety Council’s Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division (NSC-ADID).
Dr. Harper serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the
Department of Justice Sciences, an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University within the School of
Forensic Sciences, and faculty for the Borkenstein Alcohol Course at Indiana University. His interests
include oral fluid drug testing, DUID testing and interpretation, and automation, robotics, and AI. ADFS
is the first state crime laboratory to implement a comprehensive DUI/D oral fluid drug testing program in
the United States. As an Alabama Peace Officer, Dr. Harper has been certified as a Drug Recognition
Expert since 2015 and is an Alabama Impaired Driving Prevention Council member. Before becoming
Chief Toxicologist at ADFS, he served as Toxicology Supervisor in Richmond for the Virginia
Department of Forensic Science for two years. Dr. Harper has testified on the effects of alcohol and other
drugs in over 235 criminal or civil cases during his tenure in Alabama and Virginia
Chris Heartsill is currently certified by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology as a Diplomate – Forensic Toxicology and received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from East Central University in 1991. Chris has been working in analytical chemistry for over 33 years with more than 29 years of forensic toxicology experience including the areas of human performance forensic toxicology, postmortem forensic toxicology, and forensic laboratory quality management. Chris is currently working as the Regional Toxicology Liaison for NHTSA Region 7. He was previously the Quality Manager for the Dallas Police Department Crime Scene Response Section. Prior to coming to the Dallas Police Department, he served as the Quality Manager for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Worth, Texas and the Toxicology Supervisor, Toxicologist, Quality Manager, and Breath Testing Technical Supervisor at the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office in Dallas, Texas. Chris is an active member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, currently serving as the President Elect, member of the Finance Committee, and Editor of ToxTalk. Other professional organizations include the Southwestern Association of Toxicologists, serving two individual terms as President, Grant Committee Chair, and Historian, the Texas Association of Crime Laboratory Directors, and the National Safety Council Alcohol, Drugs & Impairment Division, serving on the Executive Board and performing duties as Secretary. Chris participates in the creation of standards, guidelines, and best practices by serving on the OSAC Toxicology Subcommittee.
As a government affairs representative for Intoxalock, Chase works closely with valued members of the traffic safety community to reduce instances of impaired driving, and expand access to lifesaving technologies. Chase uses his legislative experience and connections to interact positively with key stakeholders across a variety of states to help drive positive legislation, especially in the Midwest and Southeast.
Chase is a board member of the SAFE coalition, a member of the FBI Impaired Driving Task Force, and enjoys partnering with national organizations like MADD and GHSA to help keep roads safe. Chase, a Michigan native, is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
Kristen retired from public service in 2022 and worked in Toxicology for over 24 years. She is a Toxicology Liaison for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Region 9 and supports Arizona, California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories.
Before her retirement, Kristen served five years as the Laboratory Director for the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services—Toxicology Laboratory. Her laboratory provided services to 46 of California’s 58 counties. Kristen’s expertise in toxicology not only involved directing the laboratory’s operations but also testified extensively on the effects of alcohol and drugs on human performance and in postmortem scenarios.
Furthermore, Kristen’s commitment to forensic sciences extended beyond her role as Laboratory Director. While employed at the Sacramento County Laboratory of Forensic Services, she actively contributed to public safety as a member of the Crime Lab Response Team and Clandestine Laboratory Response Team. Kristen’s multifaceted contributions underscore her dedication to the highest standards of forensic analysis and her hands-on involvement in addressing critical challenges in the field. She served as a Quality Manager/Supervisor and a Criminalist at the Sacramento County Crime Lab for over three years and 8.5 years in the toxicology unit. Further, she enriched her knowledge during a 7.5-year tenure in the private sector as a toxicologist.
A recognized authority in her field, Kristen is actively involved in influential organizations. She was a member of SAMHSA’s Federal Drug Testing Advisory Board, contributing her expertise to shape national policies. Additionally, she is a member of the National Safety Council’s Alcohol, Drug, and Impairment Division and on The Society of Forensic Toxicologists—Toxicology Resource Committee. She also served as the Committee Chair for the Technology, Research, and Data Subcommittee of California’s Impaired Driving Task Force.
Throughout her career, Kristen has been a dedicated educator, imparting her knowledge to prosecutors, law enforcement professionals, fellow toxicologists, and stakeholders in traffic safety. Her passion for education led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Micro/Molecular) from Portland State University in 1997, followed by an MBA from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2021. Currently pursuing an M.S. in the Ayurveda Integrative Medicine Program at Maharishi International University, Kristen aspires to continue her academic journey with a Doctorate in Physiology, focusing on researching the impact of pharmaceuticals on health.
Kristin Smith is the Head of Global Road Safety Policy at Uber, leading the company’s impaired driving prevention efforts that show Uber’s direct role in reducing incidents and saving lives.
During her tenure at Uber, Kristin has integrated the Safe System approach into global road safety efforts, championed support for Vision Zero initiatives, and prioritized the safety of vulnerable road users. With operations in 70 countries, Kristin’s leadership has an impact on road safety throughout the world.
Experienced in transportation policy across public, private, and advocacy sectors, Kristin brings a multifaceted perspective to her work and understands that tackling the crisis on our roads requires a broad coalition of stakeholders.
Her deep commitment to road safety is deeply rooted in personal tragedy, having lost her father to a drunk driver in 2015. This experience not only fuels her personal dedication but also shapes her professional mission to end impaired driving and help ensure the safety of all road users.
Brian retired from the Washington State Patrol in February 2010 after 30-years of service, the last five years as Assistant Chief. Brian joined the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) in March 2010 as their Director of Law Enforcement. Brian has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an M.B.A. in Managerial Leadership from City University in Seattle, Washington. Brian has also attended the FBI National Academy and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
In 2004 Brian received the Washington State Governor’s Distinguished Management Leadership Award; and in October 2016 received the IACP’s J. Stannard Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Highway Safety.