A wreath is staged at the gravesite of Sgt. Maj. Henry Black, the seventh Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps at the Quantico National Cemetery. Black served in active duty from 1948 to 1977, fighting in the Korean War, Vietnam War, and training recruits as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Braydon Rogers
Othram has been selected by the U.S. Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region Regional Contracting Office (MCINCR-RCO) to provide comprehensive genealogical support services for the Marine and Family Programs Division. Othram has the capacity to support thousands of Marine Corps cases over the awarded performance period. Through this contract, Othram will identify, locate, and engage next-of-kin of unaccounted-for Marines to support DNA reference sample collection for repatriation and historical case resolution.
Under the agreement, Othram will deliver end-to-end genealogical research, trauma-informed next-of-kin outreach, family tree reconstruction, DNA kit assembly and logistics support to assist the Marine Corps in meeting its mission requirements. Othram employs credentialed professional genealogists, certified through ICAPGen and the Board for Certification of Genealogists, to conduct archival research, verify family relationships, and identify eligible maternal and paternal lineage DNA donors.
"We are honored to support the Marine Corps in their efforts to account for missing Marines and reconnect families with their history," said David Mittelman, Othram CEO. "This work requires precision, compassion, and expertise, and our team is committed to delivering the highest standards of genealogical research and family engagement."
Othram will leverage its proprietary AI-assisted tools, including Othram Maps, a graph-native system for mapping complex family networks, and Othram Glimpse, an AI-enabled research accelerator used to flag inconsistencies and automate manual steps. These tools, already validated in large-scale forensic genetic genealogy projects, improve research efficiency while maintaining strict adherence to the Genealogical Proof Standard.
All genealogical conclusions will undergo peer review by a second credentialed genealogist to ensure accuracy, defensibility, and compliance with Marine Corps requirements.
Othram is honored to provide the Marine Corps with a reliable, scalable, and fully auditable support framework for this important mission.
Press release from Othram