leadership Team


Mike Cariola
CEO
Cariola holds a master’s degree in Forensic Science from the George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cornell University. He has served on numerous advisory boards for university forensic science programs and is a current board member of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors.

Erin Sweeney
Vice President, Forensic Operations
Sweeney holds a master of science degree in Biotechnology and certificate in National Security Studies from Johns Hopkins University as well as a bachelor of science in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Connecticut. She is a member of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the International Society for Forensic Genetics.

Manzar Ahmed
Vice President, Business Operations
Ahmed has a master of science degree in Biochemistry and a bachelor of science in Biology, both from George Washington University. Prior to his role as Vice President, Business Operations he serviced as Bode’s Director of DNA Databasing.

Kristin Sasinouski
Director, Technical Operations (DNA Technical Leader)
Sasinouski holds a master of science degree in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven and a bachelor of science in Biology from the University of Connecticut. She is a member of the International Society for Forensic Genetics and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. She is also a qualified auditor, holding both QAS and ANAB ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certifications.

Robert Bever, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Robert Bever, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at Bode Technology, has over 31 years of research and operational casework experience, including acting as the program director for federally funded research grants and contracts. His expertise includes a variety of genetic technologies that analyze biological fluids, hair, and touch evidence. He also has 30+ years of experience analyzing kinship casework to establish parentage, sib-ship, and avuncular relationships. He focuses on method development for highly degraded samples, collection and extraction of DNA from touched objects, and complex mixture resolutions. His current research focuses on evaluation of genomic techniques to generate accurate genotype files in support of forensic investigative genetic genealogy applications.
Dr. Bever has a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland and performed post-doctoral research on infectious diseases at the Oregon Health Science University and the University Of Rochester School Of Medicine. Dr. Bever has provided technical reviews of over 40,000 cases and testified in over 150 trials.

Irene Qi
Director, Finance
Irene earned her MBA degree in Finance and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), as well as certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Jon Davoren
Director, Applied Research
Davoren has a master of science degree from the University of Lethbridge in Canada.

Deanna D. Lankford
Director, Forensic Casework
Deanna Lankford manages laboratory operations including high throughput and customized casework covering homicides, sexual assaults, property crimes, criminal kinship, cold cases, post-conviction testing and local databasing. She has over 26 years of experience in forensic DNA testing, having processed and/or reviewed over 10,000 cases during her career. She also has extensive experience with the implementation of advanced DNA technologies and has provided expert testimony in over 60 criminal trials and expert consultation for court martials in both the U.S. and internationally.
Lankford holds a master of science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an emphasis in Forensic DNA and Serology from the University of Florida and a bachelor of science in Medical Technology from Middle Tennessee State University. She is a member of the American Society of Crime Lab Directors, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and is a volunteer laboratory assessor.

Natalie Morgan
Director, Training
Morgan holds a master of forensic science degree in Forensic Molecular biology from George Washington University and a bachelor of science in Biology from Catholic University of America. She is a member of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. She is a trained assessor and is qualified to audit to both FBI QAS and ANAB ISO/IEC 17025.

Kristen Naughton
Director, Validation Services
Naughton has a bachelor of science degree from North Carolina State University.

Dane Plaza
Director, Federal Operations
Dane Plaza serves as Bode’s Director of Federal Operations, responsible for technical oversight and management of numerous federal forensic research and operations programs in support of the U.S. Government. He has over 19 years of experience in plant, bacterial, and human genomic research including field-forward forensics, non-destructive processing techniques, and custom forensic tool and procedure development.
Plaza holds a bachelor of science degree in Biology from Viterbo University. His research has gained international exposure, reaching wide audiences through publications and presentations at international and national forensic conferences.

Teresa Vreeland
Director, Forensic Genealogy Services and Designated Laboratory Official
Vreeland has a bachelor of science in Genetic Engineering with a concentration in Forensic Science from Cedar Crest College. She maintains proficiency as a Senior Forensic Biology and DNA Analyst.

Tabitha Bandy
Director of Sales, North America
Tabitha received a master of science in Pharmacy and a certificate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Florida, and a bachelor of science from Western Kentucky in the field of Recombinant Genetics with a minor study in Chemistry.
our experts, your cases.
Bode Technology is proud to have some of the most respected DNA experts on our team. Contact us to learn more.