Syrotuck Symposium 2026

The Symposium began in 1996 to: “Foster the intellectual and scientific development of SAR methods and techniques, to promote new ideas, and to encourage development of new techniques and the practical use of technology.”

The idea of a symposium focused on search for the lost person has its origins with Bill Wade and the National Park Service (NPS). In 1975, Bill brought together the prominent search function researchers to share information and methods. In addition to Bill, participants included Dennis Kelley, Lee Lucas, Bob Mattson, Bill Syrotuck, and Jon Wartes. Out of that meeting, and concurrent work on the new search management course, came the foundation of what we now recognize as the theory and practice of search for the lost person.

By 1995 a significant body of research on the search function had been conducted by many individuals around the world. A number of people including Paul Anderson, NPS and then-NASAR President; Rick LaValla, ERI and former NASAR president; Don Cooper, author and trainer; Hugh Dougher, NPS; Skip Stoffel, ERI; and others felt it was again time to assemble the leading experts in the field in order to further the study of the search function and to explore new ideas and concepts. The 1996 NASAR conference in Denver was selected as the venue.

At Rick LaValla’s suggestion, the Symposium was named in honor of the late Bill Syrotuck, one of the true pioneers in the field of search for the lost person. The Symposium was open to all who wished to attend. In order to ensure that those known to be active in the study of search theory and practice would be aware of the Symposium and would have the opportunity to make a presentation on their work, some 64 personal invitations were signed by Paul Anderson, NASAR President.

From History of the William G. Syrotuck Symposium on Search Theory and Practice by Chris Long, former WA State Search and Rescue Coordinator