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A Short History of
Forensic Sciences at The George Washington
University
The Department of Forensic Sciences began in 1969 as a program for FBI agents. Formed at the request of J. Edgar Hoover, the program was a cooperative venture between The George Washington University and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Originally, all the classes were conducted at FBI headquarters.
In 1971, the program was moved to the George Washington University campus and became officially recognized as the Department of Forensic Sciences. At this time, all professors in the Forensics Department were teaching in other departments such as chemistry and law.
Drs. Walter Rowe and Nicholas T. Lappas came to the program in 1975, and Dr. Charles O'Rear arrived the following year. For the first time, the Department had its own professors, each of whom could devote his full time to the science of forensics.
Since then, the Department has evolved
in many important ways. As of 1996, the Department is once
again involved in a joint venture with the Bureau to educate
and train FBI agents and employees in specific specialty areas
of Forensics. Hopefully, J. Edgar Hoover would approve!
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