PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Frederick, Md (August 12, 2026)— The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a global, nonprofit accreditation body, is celebrating Trace McInturff, Vice President of Accreditation Services, for 30 years of service to A2LA.
Over the past 30 years, Trace McInturff has devoted his career to advancing quality, competence, and trust throughout the accreditation community. Since joining A2LA in 1996, he has helped guide the organization through decades of growth and change, earning the respect of colleagues, assessors, accredited organizations, and international partners along the way. What began as a commitment to supporting accreditation evolved into a career defined by leadership, service, and a steadfast belief in the value of quality systems.
Today, Trace serves as A2LA’s Vice President of Accreditation Services, the senior leader responsible for Accreditation Services, the organization’s extensive contracted assessor corps, and a central part of A2LA’s executive leadership. Over the years, his titles and responsibilities have grown alongside A2LA itself—but colleagues say the qualities behind his work ethic have remained constant: integrity, technical discipline, loyalty, and an enduring belief in the value of accreditation.
“For three decades, Trace has consistently led by example,” said Randy Querry, A2LA’s Director of Government Relations. “As a leader he is decisive, quick to reach a decision and provide a direction forward. This characteristic has served A2LA well both internally and internationally. He is accountable and in turn expects accountability.”
Trace’s influence can be seen not only in A2LA’s success, but also in the countless laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies, and other conformity assessment organizations that rely on accreditation to demonstrate competence and quality in their work. By A2LA’s 45th anniversary in 2023, Trace could look back on an organization that had expanded from less than one thousand certificates in 1996 to more than 4,200. By the end of 2025, A2LA reported more than 4,450 actively accredited certificates across all 50 states and more than 50 foreign economies, supported by 341 contracted assessors.
Throughout Trace’s career, he has dedicated significant time and expertise to strengthening the global accreditation system through leadership roles with APAC, ILAC, and the newly established Global Accreditation Cooperation, Inc. He has chaired international committees, represented A2LA on governing bodies, served as a lead evaluator, and contributed to the revision of ISO/IEC 17025, one of the world’s most influential laboratory standards. These accomplishments reflect more than professional achievement; they reflect a deep commitment to collaboration, consensus-building, and raising expectations for quality across borders.
Through his work, Trace has helped create greater confidence in accredited results worldwide while mentoring future leaders and strengthening the global community that makes accreditation possible. His career is measured not only by the positions he has held, but by the lasting impact he has had on the profession and the people who have had the privilege to work alongside him.
“For three decades, Trace has been a driving force behind A2LA’s success and growth,” said Lonnie Spires, A2LA President and CEO. “His technical expertise, steady leadership, and genuine care for people have earned the respect of colleagues and industry partners around the world. On behalf of the entire A2LA family, I congratulate Trace on this remarkable milestone and thank him for his many contributions to our mission.”
Behind that professional journey stands his family. Trace’s wife, Gina, has shared a life that accompanies a career of frequent travel, international responsibility, and service to a global community. Gina also contributed her own creativity and expertise to A2LA for many years as a marketing and graphic design specialist. Over the years, Gina and Payton, their son, have often traveled with Trace, becoming familiar and beloved members of the broader A2LA family.
Congratulations to Trace McInturff on 30 years of service, leadership, and friendship—and thank you to Gina, Payton, and the entire McInturff family for sharing the journey with A2LA.
To learn more about A2LA, visit A2LA.org.
###
Media Contact: Wallis Reed; wreed@A2LA.org; 301-644-3230
A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation organization offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, biobanking facilities, stand-alone sampling organizations, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers, and product certifiers. For more information, visit https://A2LA.org/.