The Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy Fellow (FCAFGSM) distinction is awarded for a member’s outstanding contributions to CAFG and forensic genealogy. CAFG is proud to announce the first award to Dee Dee King, CG® for her efforts in defining forensic genealogy as an advanced specialty for genealogy professionals, as well as her promotion of standards, ethics, professionalism, and education. Dee has mentored many forensic genealogists and provided over 40 scholarships to aspiring professional genealogists. In 2012 she presented testimony for Congress regarding the proposed closing of public access to the Social Security Death Master File.
Currently the Vice President of CAFG, Dee served as Secretary – Treasurer 2011-2014, Membership Development Chair 2011-2014, Editor, Forensic Genealogy News 2011-2012, and Webmaster 2011-2014. She was also co-founder, co-director, lecturer and Institute Coordinator of the Forensic Genealogy Institute 2012, 2013, 2014.
Dee has been the Navy POW/MIA Branch’s contract genealogist since 2009. Through three contracts, she has worked over 1,000 cases to identify Family Reference Sample DNA Donors or legal Next of Kin.
Bio
Dee Dee King, CG®
Beginning in 2005, Dee began focusing on forensic genealogy. At that time, there were no resources for those working on legal cases existed; standards and risks were different, and no educational opportunities directly focused on this.
By 2007, she began a few small private discussion groups to focus on forensic genealogy as she worked to define the specialty. Her goals were for recognition of forensic genealogy as an advanced specialty and broader public awareness of the field: one with educational offerings, ethical standards and standards for work products.
Dee conceptualized a professional association with requirements for membership, levels of educational and skills proficiency, and a career and educational ladder that included a credential and a fellowship award. In 2009 Dee brought together several people already doing this type of work or were interested in it. Though this initial effort to form an association did not come to fruition, she spent the next two years researching and interviewing legal and other professionals who could benefit forensic genealogists. From this research and focus group-style inquiries, she developed drafts of ethics and standards, membership levels based on ability and education, mentor program ideas for experienced forensic genealogists to help newcomers to the field advance, communications forum ideas, and the goal to create a paperless office. At the suggestion of an attorney, the name Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy was chosen. A website was created, and two forensic genealogists were asked to review it and comment on its’ viability for buy-in.
In 2009-2010 the Board for Certification of Genealogist’s OnBoard published “Forensic Genealogy,” the first article widely published in the genealogical community that defined the specialty in terms of other forensic professionals and described the potential for kinship determinations in more than just probate cases.
In May 2011, Dee filed the paperwork to incorporate Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy and its IRS non-profit status.
Around 2012, Dee organized members to contact other professions in order to fight the proposed closing of public access to the Social Security Death Master File. She presented testimony for congressional hearing on the issue.
Dee is based in the Houston area. She and husband Rick enjoy family times with daughters Katrina and husband Lance Adams, and Jenifer and husband Chad Points; and grandkids Kaysi and Levi Adam and Ethan, Carson, and Keaton Points.