Chris Heartsill is certified by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology as a Diplomate - Forensic Toxicology and received his B.S. degree in chemistry from East Central University in 1991. Chris has been working in analytical chemistry for over 34 years, with more than 30 years of forensic toxicology experience, including the areas of human performance forensic toxicology, postmortem forensic toxicology and forensic laboratory quality management. Chris is the regional toxicology liaison in the mid-south United States. He was previously the quality manager for the Dallas Police Department Crime Scene Response Section. Prior to coming to the Dallas Police Department, he served as the quality manager for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Worth, Texas, and the toxicology supervisor, toxicologist, quality manager and breath testing technical supervisor at the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office in Dallas, Texas. 

Chris is an active member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, serving as president, member of the Finance Committee, Toxicology Resource Committee and editor of ToxTalk. Other professional organizations include the Southwestern Association of Toxicologists, serving two individual terms as president, Grant Committee chair, and historian, The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists, The National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, and the National Safety Council Alcohol, Drugs & Impairment Division, serving on the executive board and performing duties as vice chair. Chris participates in the creation of standards, guidelines and best practices by serving on the OSAC Toxicology Subcommittee. 

He serves as vice chair of the NSC Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division.