Popular
A Senior Mechanical Engineer specializing in combustion, heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, and initiation and spread of fire in buildings, vehicles, and aircraft. His experience includes ignition and flame propagation of liquid fuels; liquid and gaseous fuel explosions; self-heating and pyrolysis of solids; smoldering and transition to flaming; and explosive boiling.
Has provided expert testimony as to findings in courts of law.
Academic Background
- Ph.D., Aeronautical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain, 1979
- Ph.D., Applied Mechanics and Engineering Science, University of California, San Diego, California, 1975
- M.S., Applied Mechanics and Engineering Science, University of California, San Diego, California, 1973
- B.S., Aeronautical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain, 1968
Professional Experience
- Senior Mechanical Engineering Consultant, RTI Group, LLC, Annapolis, MD, 2006-present
- Associate Dean, Graduate Division, University of California, Berkeley, California, 2003-present
- Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1986-present
- Associate Faculty Scientist, Energy and Environment Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, 1983-present
- Expert witness, fire and explosions, 1982-present
- Consultant to federal and private organizations, 1978-present
- Senior Mechanical Engineer, FTI Corporation, San Francisco, California, 1989‑2003
- Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1982-1986
- Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1980-1982
- Professional Research staff Member, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 1977‑1979
- Research Fellow, Division of Engineering and Applied Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1975-1976
- Research Assistant, Department of Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, 1972-1975
- Research Engineer, DESCO, Madrid, and Lecturer, School of Aeronautical Engineering, Madrid University, Spain, 1968-1972
Professional Associations and Activities
- Visiting Scientist, National Center for Research, France, 1993
- Visiting Scientist, Ministry of International Trade & Industry, Tsukuba, Japan, January 1991
- Visiting Professor, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, June 1988
- Research Associate, National Center for Research, Poitiers, France, Fall 1987
- Visiting Professor, University of Naples, Naples, Italy, Spring 1987
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship, 1983
- Visiting Professor, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, Fall 1982
- Pi Tau Sigma Award for Excellence in Teaching 1982
- U.C. Berkeley Faculty Development Program Grant, 1981
- Juan March Foundation, Spain, Scholarship, 1974-1975
- Fulbright Fellowship, 1971-1972
- Instituto Nacional de Technica Aerospacial Fellowship, 1966-1968
- The Combustion Institute
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Fellow)
- International Association for Fire Safety Science
- National Fire Protection Association