The ASCLD Leadership Academy is a training program offered by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors for managerial personnel in forensic science laboratories. It is designed to deliver training of the highest quality at a cost that recognizes the current strained budgets of labs across the US. The Academy is open to ASCLD members and non-members, alike. The mission of the ASCLD Leadership Academy is to train managers to become leaders. 

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The Level I course is designed specifically for newly appointed supervisors and supervisors who have had little opportunity for previous formal management training and education. The Academy is a blended training model, combining weekly lecture-style webinars with a mandatory in-person "Management Lab" at the annual ASCLD Symposium where students will participate in hands-on, practical exercises to develop their skills. Instructors Jeremy Triplett, Jody Wolf, Tim Scanlan, and Ben Swanholm cover topics of leadership, communication, and laboratory operations. For the first time, ASCLD will be offering TWO cohorts of Leadership Academy Level I during the Symposium, allowing 110 participants to go through this invaluable training!

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The Level II course focuses on providing quality instruction to forensic science leaders who are responsible for entire forensic programs, multiple sections and teams, or an entire forensic laboratory. The ASCLD Leadership Academy Level II builds upon the instruction of Level I. Successful completion of Level I is required to take Level II. Like Leve I, Level II is a blended training model, combining weekly lecture-style webinars with a mandatory in-person capstone course at the annual ASCLD Symposium. Instructors Arlene Hall, Jody Wolf, Adam Becnel, and Henry Maynard cover topics of leadership, communication, human resources, legal, and laboratory operations. 

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The Level III course focuses on executive/director-level management in the crime laboratory. Successful completion of both Levels I and II are required to take Level III. Like its' preceding classes, Level III is a blended training model, combining weekly lecture-style webinars with a mandatory in-person capstone course at the annual ASCLD Symposium. Instructors John Byrd, Brady Mills, Ray Wickenheiser, and Mike Garvey cover topics of leadership, communication, and laboratory operations. 

Individuals currently employed in a top/executive-level position within a forensic laboratory may be eligible to bypass Levels I and II and enroll directly into the Level III Leadership Academy. These limited exemptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. If you wish to enroll directly into Level III, please submit a current official position description from your agency, organization charge, and current CV to jeremy.triplett@ky.gov along with your application (course registration). Executive-level employees should be the highest tier of leadership within a laboratory or laboratory system and should have responsibilities that include evaluating the strategic direction of the laboratory, financial management of the entire laboratory or laboratory system, and statutory/regulatory compliance.