Open letter to STAT and Christopher Morales

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Posted By: <b>Bill Panagopulos</b><p>I spy with my little eye...<br /><br />...an eleven year old 1099 - might be for thousands of dollars in non-salary teaching fees in forensic document examination, might be for picking up litter;<br /><br />...an undated GWU "Faculty" card. No course nor department noted.<br /><br />Neither document addresses Mr. Morales' qualifications to authenticate autographs or signed documents. Neither document shows what education he may have received in that field. <br /><br />On Mr. Morales' website he states: "I received the majority of my forensic science training in the U.S. Secret Service's Forensic Services Division's Questioned Document Section. I worked in all areas of handwriting [sic] and counterfeiting [sic]".<br /><br />also:<br /><br />"My Forensic Science graduate studies included concentration in questioned documents" <br /><br />These are the only qualifications on his sight that I personally believe directly pertain to an ability to distinguish forgeries. So, Mr. Morales, instead of posting images of old 1099's and ID cards, why not simply publish concrete evidence substantiating your educational credentials? <br /><br />Did the Secret Service have a curriculum for "Questioned Documents"? What was it? How many hours? What did you study? What "areas of handwriting"? Did you receive a certificate following course completion? <br /><br />What does "concentration in questioned documents" mean? It appears that GWU offers only one course in "Questioned Documents" analysis. Did you take extra courses elsewhere as part of your master's degree? Did GWU offer courses that we aren't aware of? What was in those courses? Please elaborate.<br /><br />All that is being asked here, simply put, and to corruptly paraphrase the late Sen. Howard Baker, is: "What did you learn, and when did you learn it?"<br /><br />This is not difficult.<br /><br />PS to all: Don't forget the roses today!<br /><br /><br />