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This expert is a practicing forensic engineer with over 20 years of experience conducting and participating in investigations encompassing a broad range of topics under the umbrella of mechanical engineering and materials performance accidents and failures. His expertise includes determining the role that materials and mechanical components play in such multidisciplinary events as fires, explosions, product failures, transportation accidents, business interruption losses, and personal injury and loss of life incidents.

 

 

EDUCATION

University of Maryland

Ph.D.  Mechanical Engineering                                                                                               December 2002

Dissertation – “Modeling the Transition Region Fracture Behavior of Ferritic Steels”

 

M.S.  Mechanical Engineering                                                                                                      August 1999

Thesis – “Influence of Grain Size, Strain Rate and Texture on the Stress-Strain Behavior of Al-Mg Alloy 5086”

 

B.S.  Mechanical Engineering                                                                                                           May 1996

Undergraduate Research – Metallurgical assessment of creep-stress rupture behavior of Ni-Cu alloy K500

 

 

EXPERTISE

 

Failure Analysis

  • Aircraft Components and Systems
  • Airport Ground Transportation
  • Cars and Trucks
  • Consumer Products
  • Cranes, Hoists, and Boom Trucks
  • Electric Power Distribution Equipment
  • Fasteners, Joints, and Welds
  • Gasoline and Diesel Engines
  • Lift Trucks and Heavy Equipment
  • Oil/Gas Industry Equipment
  • Recreational Devices
  • Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Mechanical Systems (Plumbing, Piping, HVAC, Refrigeration, Sprinkler Systems)

 

Fires and Explosions

  • Appliances
  • Cars and Trucks
  • Consumer Products
  • Electric Power Distribution Equipment
  • Farm and Heavy Equipment
  • Fuel Gas Systems
  • Industrial Operations
  • Lithium Batteries
  • Oil/Gas Industry Equipment
  • Petroleum Product Storage Tanks
  • Pressure Vessels

 

Materials Analysis

  • Fatigue, Overload, and Corrosion
  • Material Composition and Alloy Identification
  • Mechanical, Physical, and Thermal Properties
  • Metals, Plastics, Glasses, Ceramics

 

 

 

ASSOCIATIONS

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Member

ASTM International, Member

Aviation Insurance Association (AIA), Member

Flight Safety Foundation, Member

National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), Member

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Member Maryland Chapter

 

 

 

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATIONS, TRAINING

Professional Engineer

District of Columbia License

Virginia License

Maryland License

National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)

Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator No. 23221-13923

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

10-hour General Industry Safety and Health No. 26-707022504

30-hour General Industry Safety and Health No. 26-907246877

Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM)

CDR Tool Technician Training Certification No. 12621055

 

 

EXPERIENCE

RTI Group, LLC

Senior Mechanical/Materials Failure Analyst                                                            2020 - Present

Utilized the scientific method and various engineering principles to conduct forensic investigations and technical analyses of: mechanical systems, components, and materials failures; transportation (automobile, aviation, marine), product, workplace, recreational, and industrial accidents/incidents; fires and explosions in support of insurance claim analysis and civil litigation

 

Personal Company

Mechanical/Materials Engineer                                                                                         January 2020 – Present

Utilize the scientific method and various engineering principles to conduct forensic investigations and technical analyses of: mechanical systems, components, and materials failures; transportation (automobile, aviation, marine), product, workplace, recreational, and industrial accidents/incidents; fires and explosions in support of insurance claim analysis and civil litigation

 

RTI Group, LLC

Director of Engineering and Research                                                                           January 2015 – July 2018

Director of Mechanical Engineering                                                                    September 2011 – January 2015

Mechanical/Materials Failure Analyst                                                            September 2008 – September 2011

Utilized the scientific method and various engineering principles to conduct forensic investigations and technical analyses of: mechanical systems, components, and materials failures; transportation (automobile, aviation, marine), product, workplace, recreational, and industrial accidents/incidents; fires and explosions in support of insurance claim analysis and civil litigation

 

Independent Consultant                                                                    March 2005 – September 2008

Investigated product and mechanical systems component failures in support of insurance claim analysis.

Developed a computational, predictive model of ferritic steel fracture toughness versus temperature to bridge microscale dislocation behavior with macroscale continuum stress response.

 

Structural Integrity Associates

Engineering Associate                                                                                                     May 2004 – March 2005

Supported existing projects related to the core business of detection, characterization, and mitigation of service induced damage in steel components used by the energy industry.

 

SEA Limited and FTI/SEA Consulting

Project Engineer, Mechanical                                                                                  October 2002 – January 2004

Employed the scientific method and various engineering principles in the forensic investigation of equipment and materials failures/accidents over a broad range of industries.

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION

American Welding Society

Destructive Testing, June 2021

Metallurgy II, April 2021

The Science of Nondestructive Testing, June 2021

Understanding Welding Symbols, November 2021

Welding Fundamentals I, June 2021

Welding Fundamentals II, June 2021

Continuing Education & Development, Inc.

Basic Direct Current (DC) Theory, January 2019

Grounding System Theory and Practice, January 2019

Corrosion: Overview, January 2019

Engineering Ethics Case Study: The Challenger Disaster, May 2020

Material Properties and Corrosion, May 2020

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Canvas Network

Aviation 101, February 2019

Delft University of Technology and edX

TUDF-FE01x: Forensic Engineering: Learning from Failures, February 2019

DelftX-AEASM1x: Introduction to Aerospace Structures and Materials, March 2021

International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc and CFITrainer.net

The Scientific Method for Fire and Explosion Investigation, May 2019

Introduction to Evidence, May 2019

Residential Natural Gas Systems, August 2017

Investigating Natural Gas Systems, August 2017

Explosion Dynamics, August 2017

Documenting the Event, April 2018

Motor Vehicles: The Engine and the Ignition, Electrical, and Fuel Systems, October 2018

Motor Vehicles: Transmission, Exhaust, Brake, and Accessory Systems, October 2018

Investigating Motor Vehicle Fires, October 2018.

Fire Chemistry, May 2019

Physical Evidence at the Fire Scene, May 2019

Introduction to Fire Dynamics and Modeling, May 2019

Fire Protection Systems, May 2019

J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

Entry-Level Driver Training Module 03: Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections, June 2021

Entry-Level Driver Training Module 20: Maintenance, June 2021

Loading & Unloading: Straight Truck Series, June 2021

Vehicle Inspections: Straight Truck Series, June 2021