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Nicole Spaun, BA, MS, Ph.DSpecialties
Biometric and Facial Identification TFT Contract Courses Taught |
About Nicole Spaun
Dr. Nicole Spaun received a BA from Boston University in Planetary Science and Physics, and both her MS and PhD from Brown University in geological sciences. Her work focused on geology and remote imaging, working with NASA’s Galileo mission. Nicole continued her research at NASA’s Ames Research Center as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate.
After her postdoctoral contract ended, and based on the attacks of 9/11, she switched from space to security by applying for and starting a position as a Forensic Image Examiner at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2003. Nicole specialized in biometrics and developed the FBI’s first Facial Identification and Comparison lecture course. She trained the Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) training team to expand and teach the facial comparison course to agencies worldwide, as they still do today. Her expertise lead to her election as the first chair of the Training subcommittee for the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG). She has participated in FISWG since 2009.
In 2010, Nicole left the FBI to become the first Biometrics Program Manager for military intelligence for the US Army in Europe (USAREUR) in Germany. She worked extensively with the Army and members of the DOJ’s ICITAP to promote forensic and biometric programs and biometric usage in foreign nations throughout Europe. While in Europe, she also became an Adjunct Professor for University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC, formerly UMUC), teaching natural sciences for years.
In 2015 Nicole began working for IDEMIA (then Morphotrak) first as their Principal Biometrics Expert for Face and later as their Technical Program Manager for Facial Recognition. She developed and taught a range of basic and advanced courses in Facial Identification and Comparison. She also provided end-user guidance on facial recognition products, conducted research related to facial biometrics, and assisted customers with facial recognition policy development.
Since 2020 she has taught Face and Biometric Pattern Analysis as an Adjunct Professor in the Forensic Science Department of George Mason University. Today Dr. Spaun works for Biometric Forensics Group LLC and provides training and guidance on facial recognition. She is also an International Association of Identification’s (IAI) member, serving on their Facial Identification subcommittee working to develop a certification in facial comparisons.
Dr. Nicole Spaun received a BA from Boston University in Planetary Science and Physics, and both her MS and PhD from Brown University in geological sciences. Her work focused on geology and remote imaging, working with NASA’s Galileo mission. Nicole continued her research at NASA’s Ames Research Center as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate.
After her postdoctoral contract ended, and based on the attacks of 9/11, she switched from space to security by applying for and starting a position as a Forensic Image Examiner at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2003. Nicole specialized in biometrics and developed the FBI’s first Facial Identification and Comparison lecture course. She trained the Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) training team to expand and teach the facial comparison course to agencies worldwide, as they still do today. Her expertise lead to her election as the first chair of the Training subcommittee for the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG). She has participated in FISWG since 2009.
In 2010, Nicole left the FBI to become the first Biometrics Program Manager for military intelligence for the US Army in Europe (USAREUR) in Germany. She worked extensively with the Army and members of the DOJ’s ICITAP to promote forensic and biometric programs and biometric usage in foreign nations throughout Europe. While in Europe, she also became an Adjunct Professor for University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC, formerly UMUC), teaching natural sciences for years.
In 2015 Nicole began working for IDEMIA (then Morphotrak) first as their Principal Biometrics Expert for Face and later as their Technical Program Manager for Facial Recognition. She developed and taught a range of basic and advanced courses in Facial Identification and Comparison. She also provided end-user guidance on facial recognition products, conducted research related to facial biometrics, and assisted customers with facial recognition policy development.
Since 2020 she has taught Face and Biometric Pattern Analysis as an Adjunct Professor in the Forensic Science Department of George Mason University. Today Dr. Spaun works for Biometric Forensics Group LLC and provides training and guidance on facial recognition. She is also an International Association of Identification’s (IAI) member, serving on their Facial Identification subcommittee working to develop a certification in facial comparisons.