About VLS

"WE ARE HERE TO SERVE"
Our Mission
Forensic toxicology and digital forensics experts
We are a certified and accredited Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded by a permanently disabled decorated combat veteran from the Vietnam era. VLS provides lab services for healthcare and medical labs as well as products and services for cyber security such as a proprietary digital forensic lab near the nation’s Capitol.
President / Founder
Richard Cowand

Served in Vietnam as a Senior Scout Observer for reconnaissance in the First Cavalry from February to October 1970.
Awarded the following:
Combat Infantrymen Badge, Army Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, 2 Meritorious Bronze Stars, 1 Bronze Star with V Device, a Cross of Gallantry from the Government of South Vietnam, Expert Badge for M-60 Machine Gun, Sharpshooter Badge for M-14 Rifle, Marksman Badge for M-16 Rifle.
Founder of the Freedom Wave Foundation which provided charitable services for Veteran causes. Richard established a one of a kind Treat a Hero to Lunch program as shown here. The program shown on the video at DFW Airport was mostly self-funded by Cowand as his heart is with helping soldiers and other heroes. He is also an advocate for disabled veterans and volunteers to assist those in need navigate the VA system and secure the benefits that they earned.

Chief Operations Officer
Ashley Hood

Ms. Ashley Hood is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Veterans Lab Services, Inc. (VLS). She is responsible for organizational, personnel, finance, and project management across the VLS enterprise from the VLS Corporate Headquarters in Midlothian, Texas.
She is an experienced executive skilled in sales, office administration, organizational development, project planning, and team building. She is also an experienced government contractor where she demonstrates strong and effective leadership daily. She is responsible for daily engagement of VLS customers, stakeholders, and communities of interest ensuring they are served with high standards and commitment towards the motto: Stay Secure. Stay Safe.
Prior to working at VLS, she served in various positions at the United States Postal Service (USPS), Dallas Market Center (DMC), and Electronic Data System (EDS). She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Southern New Hampshire University.

Director, Laboratory Services and Digital Forensics
Dr. Seth Cowand

Like many people in their youth, he gained an interest in law enforcement as a potential career. This interest grew into a passion and later led to him being accomplished nationally within the United States Law Enforcement Explorer Community. He led a team to the 1996 National Law Enforcement Explorer Competition (NLEEC) in Flagstaff, Arizona where his team and the Police Department he represented won the most events of all the law enforcement agencies represented from the State of Texas. Later as an adult Associated Advisor, he trained and mentored law enforcement explorers for multiple regional and state competitions along with the 1998 National Competition hosted by the University of Maryland. During this time, he served as the Assistant Class Leader for Class 12 of the Cedar Valley Law Enforcement Academy from 1997- 1998, served as a Criminal Investigation Intern (1999-2000), and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice (2000). His knowledge of law enforcement topics, practices, and procedures led to his success serving multiple terms on the Board of Directors of the Texas Law Enforcement Explorer Advisors Association (TLEEAA). He represented Duncanville Texas Police Department on the Board, served as a judge at TLEEAA State Competitions, and was the webmaster. Although he had a great interest in pursuing a traditional law enforcement career as a police officer, he had an equal passion for the emerging technical domain of digital forensics. He went on to study Network Technology, Information Technology, and Computer and Information Security. During his studies, he earned the first-ever Information Assurance Scholar status from the National Security Agency (NSA) in the State of Texas. This propelled his career, and facilitated a move from Texas to the National Capital Region (NCR) where he served in various national security roles for the past 17 years. Combining this acquired technical knowledge and experience, with his deep knowledge of and experience in law enforcement, set his career in motion to serve VLS in this capacity.

Dr. Cowand currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Digital Forensics Certification Board (DFCB) under the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI). He has earned numerous professional certifications including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Digital Forensics Certified Practitioner (DFCP), Certified Computer Examiner (CCE), Access Data Certified Examiner (ACE), and Vehicle Systems Certified Examiner. His personal and professional aspirations are to serve with excellence the local, state, and federal government and law enforcement community utilizing his expertise in digital and multimedia (D/MM) forensic analysis.