University of Central Oklahoma's Forensic Science Institute names

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Dec 21, 2006 by Journal Record Staff

Thomas Jourdan has been named assistant director of the University of Central Oklahoma's Forensic Science Institute.

Jourdan has served more than 20 years as a special agent with the FBI. He currently is assigned by the FBI as liaison to the Department of Energy/Department of Homeland Security national laboratory complex. He works at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif.

"Dr. Jourdan and I were colleagues at the FBI for nearly two decades, and I know him to be one of the world's foremost experts in forensic science," said Dwight Adams, director of the institute.

Jourdan was head of the FBI Laboratory's Explosives Unit and served as the FBI liaison to the Scottish police during the investigation of the Pan Am 103 bombing case in Lockerbie, Scotland. He participated on a team for evidence collection in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Centennial Park Olympic bombing in Atlanta and the Oklahoma City bombing.

Jourdan is known among forensic scientists as having pioneered the area of drug residue detection in the field, which has led to arrests and convictions in a number of drug-related cases.

For 10 years, Jourdan has been the lead law enforcement representative on a United Nations-sponsored group regarding nuclear smuggling.

UCO President W. Roger Webb said Jourdan's reputation would be a great asset to UCO's Forensic Science Institute.

"Dr. Jourdan comes to Oklahoma with nationally recognized credentials in forensics, weapons of mass destruction and international terrorism," Webb said.

"He is the caliber of instructor that we will be adding to our team of experts and faculty that will solidify Oklahoma as the national leader in forensic education."

In addition to his position as assistant director of the UCO Forensic Science Institute, Jourdan will serve the university as an associate professor in the Chemistry Department.

Jourdan will join UCO on Jan. 2.

Adams began his duties as director of the institute on July 1. He had been director of the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va.

Adams has a bachelor's degree from UCO, a master's degree from Illinois State University and a doctorate in botany from the University of Oklahoma.

UCO created its forensic sciences program in 2000. The master's degree program has options in criminalistics, forensic nursing and technical investigations.