A senior air safety investigator who is internationally recognized as a forensic engineering expert witness and is an authority regarding the investigation and analysis of aircraft accidents involving both fixed wing and rotor craft, aircraft fires and equipment failures, systems reliability research, and safety analysis, as well as producing emergency response preparedness scenarios and major claims resolution training courses, such as AViCON.  He has served as the team leader and technical director, as well as principal testifier, in large multidisciplinary investigations. Examples of his specific experience in aviation encompasses widebody transport aircraft to military heavy lift helicopter accident analysis and cockpit scenario reconstructions, airborne radar and communications, ADS-B, FDR, CFR analysis, electric power systems, energy storage including lithium batteries, aircraft wiring, and protection, flight sensors and controls, avionics and flight instrument analysis, aircraft electric safety hazards, and the production of integrated flight data visualisations and simulations, hanger fire protection systems, aerial firefighting and post foam suppression aircraft evaluations.  Considerable experience in research, construction, and testing of aircraft electronics.

Mr. Reynolds was the founder and president of RTI Group, LLC based in the US, as well as the founder and chairman of the London based UK firm Reynolds Technological Inquiries Limited, RTI Ltd.  The RTI companies are an international consultancy of experienced experts with full laboratory facilities in its new research centre to determine the cause of electrical, material, and mechanical failures. An advanced multimedia studio provides the visuals to effectively present our findings.  A highly diversified firm, RTI specializes in accident and failure analysis of various size matters involving aviation, marine, rail, telecommunications, power utilities, and high-risk industries.

Has given expert testimony in arbitration hearings and courts of law and has appeared before safety boards and international professional forums.

Academic Background

• Postgraduate Studies, Engineering and Mathematics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
• E.S., Electrical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
• A.S., Electrical Technology, The Capitol Institute of Technology, Washington, D.C.
• University of Leeds, Fire/Explosion Dynamics, United Kingdom.
• University of Liverpool, Basic British Law, United Kingdom.
• The Royal Society of Medicine, British Court Procedures, United Kingdom.

Registration

• Registered Professional Engineer, Electrical: Maryland

Professional Experience

• Founder and President of RTI Group, LLC (RTI), Annapolis, MD, February 2006 to present.
• Founder and CEO of Reynolds Technological Inquiries Limited, RTI Ltd (RTI), London, UK, July 2005 to 2020.
• Founder and President of Reynolds Technologies International, LLC (RTI), wholly-owned subsidiary of FTI Consulting, Inc., Annapolis, MD, 2003-2004.
• CEO and Executive Director, Anamet, Inc., Hayward, California, 2003 to 2017. Reestablished materials engineering and testing laboratory originally founded in 1958.
• Co-founder, FTI Consulting, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland, 1982-2003. Served as Senior Vice President, Chief Scientist, President, Vice Chairman and Chairman. Team leader and principal investigator on numerous major loss investigations, aviation accident analyses, product and systems reliability research and safety analysis reviews, while serving as the head of all Engineering and Scientific Services that became the Applied Sciences Consulting Division.
• Director, Forensic Engineering Directorate, ManTech International Corporation, CADCOM Division, 1975-1982. Established and developed forensic engineering analysis services while directing and conducting investigations and research involving aging power generation equipment, electrical accidents and equipment failures.
• Research Engineer, Aerospace Safety,

Airborne Military Intelligence Operations and Research, prior to 1975.  Participated in writing System Safety Manuals for NASA flight systems.  Directed and conducted root cause failure investigations primarily in the areas of aircraft avionics and black box equipment failures, fires, explosions, and electric wiring.  Additional experience with USAF airborne radar systems and military intelligence research for EW operations.  

Professional Associations and Activities

• Academy of Experts of London
• American Society of Safety Engineers, Professional Member
• Expert Witness Institute of London
• Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, Fellow Member
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Life Senior Member: Aerospace and

Electronic Systems Society – Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society – Power Engineering Society

• International Society of Air Safety Investigators, Member No. MO3982
• The Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, National Advisory Council
• National Society of Professional Engineers, Member
• Royal Aeronautical Society
• Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honorary Society
• UK Flight Safety Committee
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association – AOPA
• Experimental Aircraft Association – EAA

Research Activities

• Airborne Radar Research
• Avionics and Aircraft Electrical Systems Failure Analysis
• Cockpit Accident Sequence Reconstruction
• Electrical Fire Ignition Research
• Electronic Warfare Research and Operations
• Cable Insulation Failure Analyses
• Flight Path Reconstruction and Visualization
• Forensic Investigation of Aircraft Electrical Distribution System Incidents
• Computer Modelling and Animation Applications
• High-Energy Physics Research
• Reconstructive Fire Science and Full-scale Burn Testing
• Lithium-ion Batteries
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety Testing