Andrew Kehm, NFTC Program Manager
Andy served in the Law Enforcement field for 28 years. He was the Chief Deputy Coroner with the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office from August 2014 to June 2019 and had stepped back as a Senior Deputy Coroner until March 2022. Andy was the Patrol Sergeant with the DeSales University Police Department for one year after retiring with twenty-one years of service with the City of Bethlehem Police Department. He served as a Detective/Sergeant assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division and Supervisor of the Forensic Services Unit. Andy has been a Field Training Officer, Emergency Response Team (SWAT) member for ten years, Water Rescue Team member, Criminal Investigator, and a founding member of the City’s Crime Scene Unit where he has testified as an expert in Crime Scene Investigations in Northampton County Court, Fingerprint Processing and Identification in Federal Court (3rd Circuit), Northampton County, and Lehigh County Courts, Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Examination in Northampton County Court and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Lehigh County Court
Andy served six years with the U.S. Army Military Police Corps attending the U.S. Army Military Police School, Military K-9 School, and the Military U.S. Customs Inspector School. In the military, he performed Patrol and Field Operations, Patrol K-9 Handler, and three years working with the U.S. Customs Service in West Germany. Andy has been a Deputy Coroner (part-time) for the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office from 1995 to 2014 and is a Diplomate with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
Andy graduated from the Allentown Police Academy and attended continuing education courses in the following locations; St. Louis University School of Medicine, Miami-Dade Police Training Institute, Mercyhurst College, National Transportation and Safety Board, The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, Laboratory of Forensic Science, Sirchie Fingerprint Laboratories, Office of Attorney General, Penn State University, and Harrisburg Area Community College for Basic, Advanced and Master Forensic Disciplines and Programs. Andy has presented training and presentations for the Bethlehem Police Department, St. Luke’s Hospital, Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, Cedar Crest College, Lehigh Valley College, Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, TriTech Forensics, a judge for SkillsUSA and is the Program Manager of the Northeast Forensic Training Center and an Adjunct at Northampton Community College.
Professional Associations
- International Association for Identification - Member since 4/29/05
- Pennsylvania Coroner’s Association - Member since 1995
- American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, Registry #1270, since 2008
- Scientific Working Group for Medicolegal Death Investigations – SWGMDI Death Scene Investigations Sub-Committee, April 2011-2013
- International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners – Active Member since 11/02/2011
- International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts – Provisional Member #3778 since Jan. 2012
- Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction – Active Member #AC861 since April 2012
- Pennsylvania Homicide Investigators Association – Previous member and renewed since 2019
Ben Iobst, Instructor
Ben grew up in the Poconos in Pennsylvania and joined the US Army shortly after 9/11. While in the Army Ben served on active duty as an Infantryman during multiple tours in the Iraq War. Upon returning home, Ben became an Allentown Police Officer, serving in multiple jobs, including Patrolman, Detective, Hostage Negotiator, a Specialty Team Commander and Patrol Supervisor. Ben retired in good standing from the Allentown Police Department in December of 2023. Ben is passionate about helping first responders and veterans, as he is a peer support volunteer in both Eastern PA Critical Incident Stress Management Team and Lehigh Valley Law Enforcement Peer Wellness Group. Ben holds a Master of Science from University of Cincinnati, a Bachelor of Arts from DeSales University, and is working on his Ph.D. from Liberty University.
Ben has been employed by NCC NFTC since 2019 and was assigned as the Assistant Program Manager of NFTC in 2024.
Melissa Gogel, Instructor
Melissa is a 21 year Police sergeant with the Allentown Police Department. Currently assigned to night shift patrol division. Previously, Melissa was assigned to the Crime Scene Unit for 5 years, Special Victims Unit for 3 years, as well as Vice & Intelligence and a strategic enforcement unit. Melissa holds an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and another in Forensic Science, a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and a Master's Degree in Justice Studies with a concentration in cybersecurity, which led her to complete a Master's certificate in Digital Forensics from DeSales University.
