Dr. Budowle has been nominated for his tireless work in building forensic capacity across the continent. Despite not being from Africa, he has actively trained and supported countries and scientists, freely sharing his time and invaluable knowledge to empower others. His distinguished career includes significant contributions to counter-terrorism, victim identification from mass disasters, and advancements in microbial forensics and bioterrorism. As chair of the Scientific Working Group on Microbial Genetics and Forensics, he has established quality assurance guidelines and developed criteria for biological databases. He has actively trained and supported countries and scientists in Africa, freely sharing his expertise to empower others. With approximately 600 published articles, over 720 presentations, and more than 250 testimonies in criminal cases, Dr. Budowle has made a profound impact in molecular biology, population genetics, and forensic biology, exemplifying excellence in his work.