ABOUT SAFS
On September 9, 1966, forensic scientists from the southern region of the United States met in Atlanta, Georgia and adopted the first constitution of the organization known as the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists. This was not the first meeting of this group, which had met previously in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Auburn, Alabama. There were 47 original or charter members. As of this writing, there are 518 SAFS members.
SAFS is the oldest of the regional forensic scientist associations with the exception of the California Association of Criminalists.
SAFS is an organization of practicing forensic scientists. To gain voting membership in SAFS it is essential that a prospective member have given expert testimony in some court of the criminal justice system, or have advanced the cause of forensic science in some significant manner. There are two other types of membership available to qualifying forensic scientists. Affiliate Membership is a limited three year membership available to any student enrolled in an accredited four year college or university, whose major field of study leads to becoming a forensic scientist. Everyone who joins SAFS must spend at least one year as an associate member. Applicants for Associate Membership must have been registered at at least one SAFS Meeting prior to the meeting at which the applicant will be considered for membership. Membership applications of all types are considered at the Business Meeting of the SAFS. Applications for associate membership, affiliate membership, promotion to regular membership, or change to retired class membership, must be submitted by June 1 of a given year in order to be considered at that year's fall meeting. Copies of application forms appear in this directory. The SAFS meets annually in the fall, at various locations in the southern region of the United States. SAFS meeting locations are selected about two years in advance.
Past Presidents of the SAFS are:
Paul E. Shoffeitt 1966-67* James E. Halligan 1967-68*
Ray Herd 1968-69* Herman Jones 1969-70*
Arthur Conners 1970-71* Arthur Fisk 1971-72*
Clarence Paul 1972-73 Larry Howard 1973-74
Carl Rehling 1974-75* June Jones 1975-76*
William Darby 1976-77 Ralph Keaton 1977-78
Dale Nute 1978-1979 Carlos Rabren 1979-1880
Edward Whittaker 1980-81 Thomas Easterling 1981-82
James Kelley - 1982-83 Martha Gray 1983-84
Richard Tanton 1984-85 Brian Bouts 1985-86
James Small 1987-87 Randy Desilet 1987-88
Edwina Ard 1988-89 F. Taylor Noggle 1989-90
Elizabeth P. Quarles 1990-91 Shirley Zeigler 1991-92
Jimmy D. Barnhill 1992-93 William E. Pearce 1993-94
Roger Parian - 1994-1995 John Kilbourn 1995-1996
Terry Mills - 1996-1997 Steve Platt - 1997-1998
Troy Hamlin - 1998-1999 Mike Healy - 1999-2000
Lynn Henson - 2000-2001 Arnold Mitchell - 2001-2002
Joe Reavis - 2002-2003 John Wegel - 2003-2004
Jaime Johnson - 2004-2005 Chris Henderson - 2005-2006
David B. Baer - 2006-2007 Kevin Ardoin - 2007-2008
Tammy Jergovich - present
* - deceased