On April 6th - 8th, 1972 the first meeting of the Northwest Association of Forensic Scientists was held in Spokane, Washington with 17 people in attendance.

The organization was formed with the following goals and objectives:

• To encourage the dissemination of information within the fields of forensic science and to discuss problems of common interest.


• To foster friendship and cooperation among forensic scientists.


• To stimulate research and development of new techniques within the field.

Membership is limited to persons of professional competency, integrity and good moral character who are actively engaged in the application of natural sciences to the examination of physical evidence involved in legal problems. The NWAFS currently has over 280 members that reside in areas of the Pacific Northwest along with California and parts of the southwest such as Arizona and Texas. We even have members as far east as Maryland!