Brett Harding: Experience, Leadership, and Service as Chief Deputy Coroner
Brett Harding has dedicated his career to advancing professionalism, education, and public service in medicolegal death investigation. As Chief Deputy Coroner, he has focused on modernizing operations, strengthening partnerships, and improving services for families, law enforcement, and the medical community.
One of Brett’s most significant accomplishments was establishing an affiliation with Idaho’s only medical school, bringing forensic pathology education opportunities to future physicians while also securing additional funding for Ada County. He also oversaw the acquisition and installation of a CT imaging unit, expanding the office’s investigative capabilities and modernizing forensic operations.
Recognizing the growing need for qualified forensic professionals, Brett successfully recruited a new forensic pathologist and built a professional partnership with Forensic Pathology Services to provide additional part-time physician support. He further strengthened collaboration within the medical community by creating a working relationship with the Ada County Medical Society to help educate physicians on proper death certificate completion.
Throughout his career, Brett has prioritized education and professional development. He advanced training standards and investigative methods for Medicolegal Investigators and authored a widely distributed white paper on “The Modern Coroner,” aimed at elevating professional practices for coroners throughout Idaho. He has also provided training and education to Idaho coroners on accepted medicolegal death investigation standards and best practices.
Brett’s leadership has extended beyond investigations alone. He implemented new safety procedures in forensic operations, introduced updated call-response vehicles equipped with off-road capability and power cots, and contributed to enhanced mass fatality preparedness efforts. He also established improved procedures for handling skeletal remains and advocated for culturally sensitive practices when caring for decedents and their families.
His ability to build strong relationships has helped strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, medical professionals, and public agencies. In addition, Brett developed alternative revenue streams to help supplement ACCO operations and improve long-term sustainability.
Brett’s expertise is backed by extensive education and nationally recognized certifications. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida and a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. He is a Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator and Board-Certified Fellow through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. His additional certifications include Certified Retrospective Fatality Analyst and Certified Psychological Autopsy Investigator.
Nationally respected within the forensic science community, Brett has served in leadership roles for numerous professional organizations, including:
Advisory Council and Board of Directors for the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
Board of Directors for the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME)
Board of Trustees for the Forensic Science Foundation
Board of Directors for the National Association of Retrospective Fatality Analysts (NARFA)
Board of Directors for National Homicide Investigators Association (NHIA)
He has also contributed to education as a former instructor or adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University, Edison State College, and the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine.
Brett has published numerous articles in the Journal of Forensic Sciences and the Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, helping advance knowledge and standards in the field.
His work has earned national recognition, including:
IACME “Investigator of the Year” (2024)
John R. Hunt Award for sustained superior contributions to the forensic science community (2025)