From planes to pills, reservist analyzes both

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Veronica A. Aceveda
  • 512th Airlift Wing
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  During his two-year activation to Dover Air Force Base, Tech. Sgt. Noel Vadell, 512th Component Maintenance Squadron, was summoned to testify three times, because his civilian occupation involves a world of crime, capture and justice. 

As a forensic chemist, Sergeant Vadell has been working for the Drug Enforcement Agency in New York for about seven years. Before that, the Temple University graduate was a chemist for DuPont, synthesizing insecticides in Newark. But, Sergeant Vadell said he needed a challenge. 

“With the DEA, I’m able to do chemistry and respond to all kinds of situations including drug lab seizures,” he said. 

Sergeant Vadell responds to suspicious sites to determine the safety aspects of the location in an effort to avoid dangerous chemical reactions that may result in explosion. He can identify specific drug production, dismantle lab apparatus and collect evidence, which may later be used in criminal hearings. 

On many of the calls, which can come in from Delaware to upper New England, Sergeant Vadell is required to wear a chemical resistant suit with a self-contained oxygen tank. But, back at the lab on a daily basis, the 6-foot 3-inch reservist can be found wearing safety glasses, analyzing evidence. 

“Sixty-five percent of what we do comes from customs,” said Sergeant Vadell. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you really haven’t; it’s incredible, the types of things that come in. If the creators of some of the things I’ve analyzed would channel their energy into something positive, they’d be Nobel Peace Prize winners.” 

An international-level news story Sergeant Vadell was directly involved in was the analyzing of evidence from a case last April, when a C-5 pilot and loadmaster were found with what was believed to be about 290,000 pills of Ecstasy in their luggage upon return from an overseas mission. 

It’s cases like this that find Sergeant Vadell and many of his counterparts in the courtroom not only testifying but for other reasons. 

“It’s crazy; we get sued all the time,” said Sergeant Vadell. 

Despite the legalities, the husband and father of two said he’s not going anywhere. 

“I plan to stay on with the DEA for many years,” said Sergeant Vadell. “I’d like to reach the senior forensic chemist level and continue to provide clandestine laboratory training to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.” 

As for his military job as a jet engine mechanic in the base test cell, he plans to stay there too. 

“Eighteen years ago, I made a commitment, and I like what I do,” said Sergeant Vadell, a husband and father of two who also serves in the 512th Airlift Wing’s honor guard.
Whether he’s wearing a lab coat or BDUs, he’s fighting two wars - the war on drugs and the war on terrorism.