The Central Identification Laboratory (CIL) is the largest skeletal identification laboratory in the world and is staffed by more than 30 forensic anthropologists, archaeologists and odontologists (dentists). In 2008, the CIL became the 2nd federal laboratory to pass the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors'-Laboratory Accreditation Board's (ASCLD-LAB) International Standards Program, thus ensuring our continued progress towards the identification process.
Employing more than 400 joint military and civilian personnel, JPAC has spanned the globe in search of missing Americans since 2003. Command personnel, along with other U.S. and foreign specialists, research, investigate, recover and identify remains of Americans unaccounted-for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
CIL Mission Statement
The mission of the CIL is to search for, recover, and identify U.S. personnel missing from past military conflicts.
To this end, the CIL will attain the highest level of scientific competence and integrity possible and maintain a level of ethical standing that is beyond reproach. The CIL is dedicated to maintaining itself as a leader in this profession. In order to achieve its mission, the CIL will maintain its accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-Laboratory Accreditation Board.
CIL Objectives
The CIL has three primary objectives:
- The recovery and identification of U.S. military personnel, certain American civilian personnel, and certain allied personnel unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts and contingencies.
- To serve as a national forensic resource.
- To advance research and development in the area of forensic science as it relates to the recovery and identification of human remains.
CIL Functions
The primary functions of the CIL are to:
- Direct scientifically sound recoveries for missing U.S. service members and other mission-related U.S. personnel.
- Provide scientifically sound tests of human remains and non-biological material evidence.
- Establish identifications of individuals under the CIL’s jurisdiction.
- Conduct research in forensic science methods and techniques.
- Support humanitarian missions in support of homeland defense, current-day mishaps, and national and international mass disasters.
- Provide forensic support to foreign governments and international organizations as directed.
- Provide forensic support to law enforcement and investigative agencies.
- Collaborate with national and international scientific and forensic organizations to advance the field.
