Kristen Burke

Kristen has over 26 years of experience in toxicology, currently serving as the NHTSA Region 9 Toxicology Liaison, supporting AZ, CA, HI, and Pacific Territories. Previously, she was the Laboratory Director for the CA Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services Toxicology Laboratory and held roles as Quality Manager/Supervisor and Criminalist at the Sacramento County Crime Lab. Kristen was a committee member and Chair of the CA Impaired Driving Task Force’s Technology, Research, and Data Subcommittee. Throughout her career, she provided instruction to traffic safety stakeholders regarding toxicology testing, testimony, and drug effects/impairment. She holds a BS in Biology, an MBA from USC, and is a candidate for an MS in Ayurvedic Integrative Medicine (June 2025).