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Darin Detwiler (born in 1968) is an internationally-recognized     and award-winning American professor and food safety advocate. He is an Author, Consultant, and an Associate Teaching Professor at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies in Boston, Massachusetts.

Early Life
Detwiler grew up in San Gabriel, California, attending schools in Temple City through his Sophomore year when his family moved to Moorpark, CA. He was active in marching band, the school newspaper, student government, and even served as a student member to the board of education. After graduating from high school in 1986, Detwiler enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

Military Career
Detwiler enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1986 pior to graduating from high school. He reported to Naval Recruit Training in Orlando, [Florida], where he later graduated as a Nuclear Machinist's Mate, from Nuclear Power School. He then graduated from Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Idaho - S1W Reactor (or USS Nautilus (SSN-571) prototype.) This course of instruction is commonly referred to as "the nuclear-power pipeline." He served aboard the USS William H. Bates (SSN-680), a fast-attack nuclear Sturgeon-class submarine, during the last years of the Cold War and into the First Gulf War. Detwiler earned his board qualification in Submarine Warfare. As such, he earned the right to wear the Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia, also known as "Dolphins." Detwiler served as a mechanical operator, an engine room supervisor, and a quality assurance inspector for the submarine's nuclear propulsion plant. He earned various medals, ribbons, and commendations. Detwiler left the Navy with an Honorable Discharge. He later served in the US Naval Reserve.

As a Navy Veteran, Detwiler serves as the Vice Commander of the  United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI)  Los Angeles / Pasadena Base (2022- Present). He is the Executive Director of the United States Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation  (2022- Present). Detwiler is also an Associate Editor and contributing writer for the American Submariner  magazine  (2022- Present).

Food Policy Work
In January, 1993, while serving in the Naval Reserve, Detwiler heard local news reports of a foodborne illness outbreak which referenced a little-known bacteria called Escherichia coli O157:H7. Investigators tied the outbreak to beef in hamburger sold at Jack in the Box restaurants in Seattle, Washington, about 90 miles south of where he and his family lived. A county health department notice (at the daycare center where he picked up his 16-month-old son, Riley) asked parents to watch for signs of foodborne illness in their children. Health officials were concerned about another child at the daycare center who tested positive for Escherichia coli O157:H7. After Detwiler’s son began showing symptoms, doctors tested him and determined that that, due to person-to-person contact with the sick child, Detwiler’s son became one of the over 700 patients known to be sickened in the Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak across Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada. While in Seattle Children’s Hospital, Pediatric ICU, doctors performed exploratory surgery and removed a large portion of the colon, then placed Detwiler’s son in a medically-induced coma. He developed Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a kidney disease associated with the most severe Escherichia coli O157:H7 cases, resulting in kidney failure. The Detwilers reached out through local news and beyond to warn others about this failure in food safety and about the fact that young children, most of whom never ate the implicated products, were at risk. On February 20, 1993, only 23 days after he became ill, Detwiler’s son Riley died of respiratory failure brought on by his Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection. His death captured the attention of newspapers across the country The Seattle Times published an article noting the “legacy of awareness” that came out of this death and the advocacy of grieving parents. Only a month after the funeral, the Detwilers flew to Washington, D.C. to speak to Vice President Al Gore regarding the Clinton health care plan of 1993 While in D.C., they met with Vice President Al Gore, worked with the Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, and discussed food safety issues with lawmakers.
 * Appeared on The Phil Donahue Show, filming remotely from Seattle, on an episode about the “Meat Outbreak in the PNW.”
 * Appeared on the “Live Televised Town Meeting with President Bill Clinton,” filming remotely from Seattle, where they spoke to Clinton about the outbreak and the newly inaugurated president addressed what his administration, namely the USDA, would do in response.

Detwiler increased his efforts to advocate for changes in food safety. He spoke before advocacy groups, testified before committees, meeting with media outlets, and working with the USDA on Food Safe Handling Instruction Labels for all packages of raw meat and poultry, and a USDA radio Public Service Announcement regarding food safety at home. Detwiler worked with television medical dramas and other shows to incorporate foodborne illness outbreaks into their storylines and even started work on a TV movie about his family’s experience (later cancelled by network executives.) Detwiler later wrote an Op-Ed article for the The New York Times about this experience. This article resulted in two appearances on ABC’s Good Morning America. Detwiler contemplated entering state politics, but became an educator instead. As a teacher, he incorporated food safety messages into science lessons and school activities. In 2003, Detwiler joined 50 teachers from across the country to participate in the National Science Teachers Association / Food and Drug Administration Professional Development in Food Science Program, gaining certification as a food science educator. He would later write food science curriculum published for other teachers to use.
 * United States Department of Agriculture - The Secretary of Agriculture appointed Detwiler to two terms (2004-2007) as a member of the USDA’s National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, where his work as a policy advisor and consumer representative improved standards and policies related to risk-based sampling.
 * Food and Drug Administration - Detwiler worked with the administrators and consumer groups regarding rules and implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Met with outbreak investigators to discuss after-event findings. Made public comments at FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) listening events and training events in various states.
 * STOP Foodborne Illness - Detwiler served as the Senior Policy Coordinator (2014-2016). Provided policy support for FDA/USDA/CDC advisory group, coordinated efforts with food industry NGOs and associations, and collaborated with federal / state agencies, constituents, and industry stakeholders. Authored study of foodborne illness victim statistics for The PEW Charitable Trust’s Safe Food Project.
 * Consumer Federation of America - Detwiler worked with Safe Food Coalition to support to support a variety of policies related to food safety.
 * Conference for Food Protection - Detwiler served (2014-2018) as a member of Council II: Administration, Education, and Certification. His work involved identifying and addressing emerging problems of food safety to influence model laws and regulations among all government agencies.  This group makes recommendations for revisions to the FDA Food Code.
 * STEC CAP Program - Detwiler served as a member of this group’s Stakeholder Advisory Board. This was a USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded project.
 * Quality Assurance & Food Safety Magazine - Detwiler serves as a member of the magazine’s editorial advisory board (2016-2018.) He also writes a column on “The Consumer Perspective.”


 * National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) - Detwiler serves as as the Chair of NEHA's Food Safety Program Committee.

For his work, the International Association for Food Protection presented Detwiler with their 2022 Ewen C.D. Todd Control of Foodborne Illness Award, sponsored by Marler Clark Attorneys at Law The International Association for Food Protection earlier presented him with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award, sponsored by Food Safety Magazine

Academic Work
Detwiler Taught in public schools for 16 years, including four years as a multi-subject high school teacher in Anacortes, Washington. He then went on to teach high school math and science for eight years in Kirkland, WA, where he received the 2009 Amgen“AASTE” Award for Science Teaching Excellence, the 2006 King County, Washington "Earth Hero Award (for Environmental Education), King County, Washington (2006) , and the 2003 Toyota / National Science Teachers Association TAPESTRY Award for Innovation in Science Literacy Education . Detwiler went on to teach for four years as a middle school U.S. history teacher in Redmond, Washington where he received the 2013 Washington State Historical Society Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching History  .  He also taught for four years at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington where he taught students with special needs.

Detwiler is an Associate Teaching Professor at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. He is a professor of food regulatory policy, specializing in food safety, global economics of food and agriculture, Blockchain, and food authenticity. He earned the 2016 College of Professional Studies "Excellence in Teaching Award,". Detwiler served as the Lead Faculty for the college’s Regulatory Affairs of Food and Food Industries Program for four years. He also served as the college's Assistant Dean for four years.

Selected Publications / Media
Books authored- Detwiler wrote about how the loss of a child to a foodborne illness was seen by TV executives in 1993. He explored how the USDA’s “Food Safe Handling Instruction Labels” for meat and poutlry and the USDA’s 1994 “Food Safety Postcards” impacted the early stages of the department’s Pathogen Reduction Program. Detwiler also reflected on his observations of change (or lack thereof) over time. Detwiler wrote a series of articles based on interviewing participants and being in the courtroom during the Peanut Corporation of America sentencing for their roles in the 2008-2009 Salmonella outbreak.
 * Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions . (2020).
 * Building the Future of Food Safety Technology: Blockchain and Beyond . (2020).

Media-

Detwiler was a speaker for the TedXNortheasternU 2022 event where he talked about about his many years of experience as an advocate in a presentation titled "Inspiring Change: Harnessing the Inner Hercules." In 2017, CNBC aired an episode of American Greed "From Peanuts to Sick Millions." Season ll, Episode AG 141. The episode featured Detwiler heavily as a subject matter expert who had talked with the Peanut Corporation of America's CEO, interviewed victims and families of those who died, and who witnessed the court proceedings.

In 2015, Food Republic produced and aired Food Crimes: "P.B. & Jail." The episode featured Detwiler heavily as a subject matter expert who had talked with the Peanut Corporation of America's CEO, interviewed victims and families of those who died, and who witnessed the court proceedings.