Explosives Pyrotechnic Expert Witness

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Expert Witness No.1915

Rhode Island

Expert 1915 is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Rhode Island and co-director of the Forensic Science Partnership.  Following her Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia (Chemistry, 1983), Expert 1915 joined the faculty of New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology (NMT) where she founded a Ph.D. program in explosives and created a Thermal Hazards Research group.  Expert 1915’s lab specializes in the study of energetic materials. The majority of the studies examine the mechanism and rate at which these materials decompose.  The goal is to understand their stability so that they may be handled safely

Expert 1915 has organized numerous symposia and workshops for government and industrial laboratories on topics ranging from hazards analysis to bomb threats.  She organizes and instructs short course on explosives both for University credit and for government facilities, e.g. Sandia National Laboratory; NAVSEA, Indian Head; TSA Technical Center.  Expert 1915 is the past chair of the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Energetic Materials; co-founder of Life Cycles of Energetic Materials and the GRC on Illicit Substance Detection.  She is an elected fellow of the North American Thermal Analysis Society and a reviewer for the FBI, NSF, and National Academy of Sciences (NAS) National Research Council (NRC).  Expert 1915 has served on five NRC panels--Military Science Board advising the Army on Chemical Weapon Destruction (1998-99); Chemistry Board advising ATF & Congress on the Committee on Marking, Rendering Inert, & Licensing of Explosive Material (1997-98); National Material Advisory Board (NMAB) advising the FAA on Commercial Aviation Security (1995-98); the Manufacturing Board’s Advanced Energetic Materials (2001-2002); the Naval Studies Board’s Determining Basic Research Needs to Interrupt the Improvised Explosive Device Delivery Chain.(2005-2008).

Expert 1915 has authored 70 papers on energetic materials (explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics).  She has worked on law enforcement issues [with the FBI simulating the World Trade Center bombing (1993), with FEL examining large fertilizer bombs, and with ATF studying the behavior of pipe bombs]; however, her main research interest is hazard analysis of energetic materials.  Studies include kinetics, analysis and prediction of stability, safety issues, synthesis of energetics, and analytical protocols.  Her study of ammonium nitrate stability and terrorist usage has led to an invitation to testify before a subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee.  In addition, she has studied most classes of energetic materials with publications on nitrate esters (PETN, NG, NC); nitroarenes (TNT, TATB, DNT, and related ring systems); nitramines (RDX, HMX, CL-20); nitrogen-heterocycles (NTO, TNAZ); energetic salts (AN, AP, ADN, HAN); proto-type difluoroamine compounds; and other energetic compounds, such as hydroxylamine, hydrogen peroxide, TATP, and HMTD.  Work has been performed for a variety of companies (BASF, Battelle, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Exxon, Honeywell) and government agencies (U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, FAA, TSA, DARPA, and Sandia & Los Alamos National Labs).  Expert 1915’s URI laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instruments: calorimeters, chromatographs, mass spectrometers and multinuclear NMR.  Present projects include energetic chlorine-containing salts, TNT and RDX residue analysis, hypergolic reactions of TNT, characterization of pipe bombs, preparation of canine training aids and explosive detection evaluations.

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver;
M.S.,  Chemistry, California State University, Northridge, CA;
B.A., University of California, San Diego, CA.

Chronology of Employment

2002 to present           A State University                                                        Professor
1999 to 2002               A State University                                                        Associate Professor
1998 to present           A State University Forensic Science Partnership      Co-Director
1995 to 1999               A State University                                                        Adj. Associate Professor
1995 to 1998               Gordon Research Conferences                                 Deputy Director
1989-1995                   New Mexico Inst. of Mining & Tech. (NMIMT)             Associate Professor
1984-1989                   NMIMT, Socorro, NM                                                   Assistant Professor
1987-present               Los Alamos National Laboratory                                 Visiting Scientist
1983-1984                   Petroleum Recovery Research Center, NMIMT         Postdoctoral Fellow

Awards & Honors

Saferstein Memorial Award Lecturer, Northwestern U. March 2005

Invited witness, House Subcommittee Homeland Security on HR3197, Dec. 14, 2005.

National Academy of Science (NAS): National Research Council (NRC)--5 committees:

Navy Studies Board “Improvised Explosive Devices” (2005-2008)

Manufacturing Board-advising US military “Advanced Energetic Materials Manufacture”(01-02)

Military Science Board advising U.S Army--“Chemical Weapon Destruction” (Dec. 97-June 99).

Chemistry Board advising ATF&Congress-“Marking, Rendering Inert, & Licensing Explosives ('96-'98);

National Material Advisory Board advising FAA-- “Commercial Aviation Security” (Jan'95-98).

Developed & instructed courses on energetic materials safety & security for Sandia National Labs, DoD

Managers, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Allied Signal, etc.

Organizer & Chair in nat’l organizations (Gordon Research Conf. Energetic Materials 1994,96; Calorimetry Conf. 1991-94; Life-Cycles Energetic Materials 1993-98; NATAS 1992-96)

Elected Fellow North American Thermal Analysis Society (NATAS); Sept. 1995.

Vice-Chair of NMIMT Faculty Senate (1993-94)

Chair of  New Mexico section of the American Chemical Society ’88; education chair ’85

NMIMT corporate representative to American Assoc. of University Women ’93-85

Reviewer for the FBI, National Science Foundation (NSF), National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Naval Studies
Board & National Research Council (NRC) & Department of Energy

DOE review panel: "Low-Level Mixed Waste Cleanup"; June 1993, Feb. 1994, Ap 1994.

"Recycle, Reuse, & Disposal of Matls DOE's Decontam. & Decommis. Act.;" Oct. '92.

Interviewed: Chemistry & Engineering News, article, '93, ACS journal; New York Times; Business Week; Expert Moderator for 10 Explosives  2001

Videotaped interview for national ACS TV news brief, 1993.

Good Morning America, 1996; Nat. Public Radio, 1996; CNN ,ABC Discover, 1996.  Newsmakers (1996), Truman Taylor Show (1996), TV Ashia, TV Nippon (1996); CBS 48 Hours, 1997; Script reviewer  GRB Entertainment 1997.

Featured in Rhode Island Monthly, 2000 and in Providence Journal, 2000

Listed Who's Who in Science & Engineering '92, '93; Who's Who Among America's Teacher's '94.

Publications

Extensive list of publications available upon request.

Invited Lectures

“Thermal Decomposition Studies for Conventional & Unconventional Explosive Questions.”
Heat-Flow Calorimetry of Energetic Materials Sept 12-15, 2005

Improvised Explosives; NATO Advanced Research Workshop: Detection and Disposal of Improvised Explosives; St. Petersberg; Sept. 6-11 2005.—paper presented by Herr Prof Schubert

Energetic Materials Intelligence Symposium, “Improvised Explosives” Aug. 30- Sept. 1, 2005

“Peroxide Explosives” Ben-Gurion University, Israel, June 8, 2005.

Saferstein Memorial Award Lecture, Northwestern U. March 24, 25 2005

Energetic Materials Intelligence Symposium “ Forensic Issues of Explosives” September 7-9, 2004

Energetic Materials Research at URI,” Hebrew University, Israel, Aug 4 2004

Gordon Research Conference on Energetic Materials “Explosive Research—Forensic Issues” Tilton, NM June 21, 2004.

“Explosions—Explosives Not Required” Canadian Explosive Research Lab; Ontario, June 10, 2004

TA Instruments Users Meeting; Feb. 2, 2004, San Antonio

Explosive Analysis—Training for U.S. Customs Laboratory; Las Vegas, NV;  Feb. 23-24, 2004; Aug 10-11, 2004

Critical Incident Response Technical Support for Bomb Squads; Philadelphia, PA Jan. 14, 2003.

Golden CO Explosive Short Course; Oct 16-18, 2002;  Oct 14-16 2003; Oct 12-15, 2004
URI  Explosive Short Course, May 13-15; 2003; May 11-13, 2004

Holy Cross College; Nov. 1, 2002

North America Thermal Analysis Society, plenary; Sept. 25, 2002

"Instrumental Analysis of Explosives and Explosive Residues"  FBI Quantico, VA Jan. 29-Feb.3, 1995; May 18, 1996; May 17, 1997;  May 6-8, 1998; May 7,1999; May 8, 2000; May 6, 2002; April 19, 2004

“Peroxide Explosives” International Workshop on the Forensic Aspects of Peroxide Explosives” Dec. 5, 6 2001 Fort Halstead, UK.

“The Forensic Examination of Explosives” St. Anselm’s College, NH; Oct. 12, 2001

“Forensic Examination of Pipe Bombs” TWGFEX 1st Annual Meeting; Orlando, FL; 8/15/01

“The Forensic Examination of Explosives” Rhode Island College, RI: Feb. 9, 2001

“An Overview of Forensic Investigations”  Hood College, MD;  Oct.24, 2000

“Availability and Analysis of Explosive Residue” ACS National meeting Explosive Symposium, Washington, D.C. Aug. 22, 2000.

Oxley, J.C. “A Parametric Study of Pipe Bombs” presented at the International Workshop on Forensic Aspect of Low Explosive Devices,  Fort Halsted, UK  Feb. 9-10, 2000.

“Safe Handling of Energetic Materials” System Safety Society; Pawtucket, RI; Nov. 3, 1999.

 “Thermal Stability of New Nitramine and Difluoramine Explosives” Sandia NL; Albuquerque, NM; Nov. 23, 1998.

“Thermal Stability of New Nitramine and Difluoramine Explosives” Naval Surface Weapons Lab; China Lake, CA; Oct. 5, 1998.

“The Thermal Analysis of Energetic Materials,” plenary lecture, NATAS, Toronto; 9/13/98

“The Study of Energetic Materials,” Chem. Dept. Georgia Institute of Tech., Sept. 10, 1998.

 “The Study of Energetic Materials,” Chem. Dept. Arizona State U., Sept. 8, 1998.

“Explosives:  Their Properties and Performance”  Defence Research Agency, UK, July 13, 1998.

Explosives & Explosive Detection; IEEE Explosive Detection Class; March 27, 1997; Boston.

"The Basics of Explosives"; Feb. 21, 1997; Mechanical Engineering Dept; U of Utah.

Ammonium Dinitramide Decomposition Mechanisms;  Feb. 20,’97; Thiokol; Brigham City, UT

"Decomposition of Ammonium Dinitramide" Energetic Materials, Dec. 3-6, ‘96, Annapolis, MD.

 “A Scientist s Brush with the Media Keynote, ACS Science Reporters Workshop; Oct.19, 1996.

“Explosives in Landmine Use" MIT Working Group Aug. 26-31, 1996.

“Studies on Ammonium Nitrate" Army Research Lab, Aberdeen, MD; Jan. 3, 1996

“Thermal Decomposition Studies of Ammonium Nitrate"  McGill University; Nov. 22,1995

"Terrorist Threats" JASON group MITRE, La Jolla, CA; July 12, 1995.

"Solution-Phase Decomposition of Nitrogenated Energetics," Ethyl; Richmond, Aug.15, 94.

Gordon Conf. on Energetic Materials; "Thermal Decomposition of Nitroarenes," NH; June 1994.

"Thermal Hazards Research: an Overview of RCEM Projects;" Sandia National Lab, Ap 22, 94.

Shock, Mechanical, & Thermal Initiation-to-Detonation Workshop "Thermal Decomposition Mechanisms," Los Alamos, NM; Nov.16-18, 1993.

Lecturer:  Computational Mechanics Workshop, "Explosives Technology";  Oct. 18-19, 1993; Oct. 1991; Santa Fe.

Fraunhofer Institute fur Chemische Technologie "Thermal Decomposition of Nitroarenes;" 9/1/93.Karlsruhe, Germany.

1993 Europto International Symposium on Substance Identification Technologies; October 4, 1993; Innsbruck, Austria.

Los Alamos National Laboratory:  Team 1; "Thermal Decomposition of Nitroarenes," Mar. 12, 1993; Los Alamos, NM.

University of California, Los Angeles, High Pressure class, "Fundamentals of Explosives"  Nov. 9,11,’92. Los Angeles.

Los Alamos National Lab: "Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Materials"; Nov. 10, ‘92; Los Alamos, NM.

U. of  New Orleans, Chemistry Dept; Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Materials; 10/2/92; New Orleans, LA.

1992 Annual Meeting of Optical Society of America, Fundamental and Applied Spectroscopy, Technical Group Mtg. "Explosive Detection"; Sept. 23, 1992; Albuquerque, NM

NATAS Thermal Hazards Symp.; September 13-16, 1992; Altanta, GA.

Symposium on Technology and Terrorism, National Strategy Information Center; Aug. 25-27, 1992; St. Andrews, U.K.

JANNAF Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcom, Cookoff Symp, Ap27-May 1, 1992, Silver Spring,MD.

National Energetic Materials Workshop & Study Group U.S. Depart. of Transportation, April 14-17, 1992, Avalon, NJ.

DOD Workshop on the Fundamental Physics & Chemistry of Combustion, Initiation, & Detonation of Energetic Materials "Thermal Decomposition of Nitramine" March 3-6, 1992, Los Alamos, NM.

Lecturer & Organizer:  Federal Aviation Assoc. Technical Center: "Introduction to Explosives" 5/91, Ocean City, NJ.

"Thermal Analysis of Energetic Materials" Los Alamos Nat’l Lab High Explosives Group, Los Alamos, NM; 2/21/91.

Gordon Research Conference on Energetic Materials; "Thermal Decomposition Studies" New Hampton, NH; 6/90.

Regional American Chemical Soc. " An Academic Study of Ammonium Nitrate Decomposition; Salt Lake; June 1990.

Industry/University Cooperative Research Center Director's Meeting; National Science Found. Wash. D.C.; 1/12/90

"Thermal Hazards Analysis"IRECO; Salt Lake City, UT; Dec 15, 1989

"Thermal Hazards Analysis"Hercules Bachus; Magna,UT; Dec.14, 1989

"Thermal Hazards Analysis"Thiokol; Brigham City, UT; Dec.13, 1989

University of California, Los Angeles, High Pressure class, "Fundamentals of Explosives"  Dec. 1988; Los Angeles.

"Organometallic Nitrosyl Hydrides"  Chemistry Dept., University of Texas, El Paso, Oct. 19, 1984.

Presentations

Blast Injury Testing Conference, “Characterizing Pipe Bombs”  Aug.31-Sept 1, 2004

Explosives in Hair; International Symposium Analysis & Detection of Explosives; Ottawa, ON June 7-10, 2004

“Decomposition of TNT in Soil” Battelle Sustainable Range Management, Jan 7, 2004; New Orleans

SPIE  Hair as Forensic Evidence  April 13, 2004  Orlando

SPIE   Training Dogs to Detect TATP  April 14, 2004, Orlando, FL

Hair as Forensic Evidence, TWGFX, Orlando, FL; Nov 19, 2003

Explosive Research at URI, MITRE, Wash, DC; Sept 11, 2003

Hair as Forensic Evidence, Forensic Explosive Lab, dstl, UK Sept 4, 2003

Enhanced Novel Explosives; 3rd International Non-Ideal Explosive Workshop; Socorro, NM May 21, 2003

Enhanced Novel Explosives, MITRE, Wash, DC; Feb. 4, 2003

“Lessons Learned from Two Explosions in Hydroxylamine Plants” ASC  April, 6-8 2002

“Pipe Bombs: A Parametric Study”  Northeast Assoc. of Forensic Science Meet; Oct. 4-6, 2001, Stowe, VT

“Thermally Unstable Materials: Potential for Catastrophic Runaway” American Chemical Society National Meeting; Aug 27, 2001

“Chemical events during the PEPCON Explosion”  ACS National Meet ; Langerman & Oxley; Aug. 28, 2001

“Pipe Bombs—a Fragmentation Study” 1st Annual TWGFEX Symposium on Fire & Explosion Debris Analysis & Scene Investigation; Orlando, FL; Aug. 15, 2001

“Thermal Decomposition of High-Nitrogen Energetic Compounds—Tetrazines” NATAS Orlando, FL. Oct 4-6, 2000

“Thermal Decomposition of Difluoroamino Compounds”  NATAS, Sept 1998.

"Thermal Stability of New Difluoroamine Complexes" American Defense Preparedness, 10/6-8/97.

"Ammonium Nitrate:  Can It Be Inerted?"  North American Thermal Analysis Society, Sept ‘97.

"HAN Propellant Stability" North American Thermal Analysis Society, Sept 1997.

"TNAZ Decomposition"  Pictinny Arsenal "Sixteenth Annual Working Group Institute on Synthesis of High Energy Density Materials;" Picatinny, NJ; June 18-19, 1997.

" Desensitization of Ammonium Nitrate" ARL Review; May 30, 1997.

"Ammonium Nitrate and Explosive Principals" U Utah, Mechanical Engineering; Feb. 21, 1997.

"ADN Decomposition Pathways"  ONR Review; Annapolis, MD; Dec. 6, 1996.

“Explosives in Seawater--Environmental Decomposition Second Explosives Detection
Technology Symp. & Aviation Security Technology Conf.; Atlantic City; Nov.12-15, 1996.

"TNAZ Decomposition Pathways"  Fifteenth Annual Working Group Institute on Synthesis of High Energy Density Materials;" Picatinny, NJ; June 12, 13, 1996.

"Materials of Potential Terrorist Threat" 5th International Symposium on Analysis & Detection of Explosives, Dec. 4-8, 1995; Washington, D.C.

“Ammonium Nitrate: Desensitization & Taggant Issues" 5th International Symposium on Analysis & Detection of Explosives, Dec. 4-8, 1995; Washington, D.C.

"NTO Thermal Decomposition" Materials Research Society, Nov. 27-30, 1995; Boston, MA.

"Thermal Studies of Energetic Materials" Los Alamos National Laboratory; July 14, 1995.

"Thermal Decomposition Studies on NTO and NTO/TNT" ICT 26th Intnt. Ann. Conf on Pyrotechnics; Karlsruhe, Germany; July 6, 1995.

"Explosives Detection:  Potentail Problems"  SPIE Europto European Symposium on Optics of Environmental and Public Safety; Munich, Germany; June 21, 1995.

“Thermal Decomposition of NTO"  ADPA, Orlando, FL; March 21-24, 1994.

"Thermal Hazards Analysis of Ammonium Nitrate Formulations"

Eastern Analytical Symposium; Sommerset, NJ; Nov. 18, 1993.

"Thermal Analysis of Liquid Propellants ARDEC, Picatinny NJ, Aug 16,1993; Aberdeen, Maryland Sept 10, 1993

"Thermal Stability Studies on Nitroarenes" 10th International Detonation Symposium; Boston, July, 1993.

"Thermal Analysis of HAN-Based Liquid Gun Propellants" JANNAF Propulsion a Systems Hazards Subcommittee, Fort Lewis, WA, May 10-13, 1993.

"XM46 Critical Assessment of Its Thermal Behavior" Picatinny Arsenal, Ap 6,'93.

"Thermal Hazards Evaluation of Energetic Materials" presented at Research Center for Energetic Materials Semiannual Review, Ap 1995, Oct. 1994; Ap. 20, 1994; Oct. 24, 1993; Ap. 21, 1993; Oct. 27,1992; Ap. 21, 1992; Oct. 9, 1991; Ap. 10, 1991; Oct.24, 1990; Ap, 1990; Oct., 1989; Ap 10, 1989; Oct.20,1988; Ap 13, 1988; Nov. 4,5, 1987; May 27, 1987; Dec. 2, 1986; Mar 26, 1986.

Lecturer CETR Explosives Safety Course: Nov. 8, 1993; May 17,1993;  Nov. 1992; Nov. 1991; May 1991; Feb. 1990.

"Chemistry & Science--Options for Todays Woman" Expanding Your Horizons Conf. at Los Alamos Nat’l Lab, 3/1/93.

"New Mexico Tech Hazard Testing Capabilities" DuPont, Wilmington, DE, Feb. 25, 1993.

"Liquid Gun Propellant Testing" presented at EMRTC Seminar, NMIMT, Feb 12, 1993.

"New Mexico Tech Hazard Testing Capabilities" TRW Mesa Sys, Mesa, AZ; Nov. 12,'93.

"New Mexico Tech Hazard Testing Capabilities" TRW San Bernardino, CA; Nov.11,'93.

"Ammonium Nitrate Explosives--Thermal Stability and Compatibility on Small & Large Scale"  NATAS-invited speaker at Thermal Hazards Symposium September 22-25, 1991.

"The Effect of Anions on the Thermal Stability of Ammonium Nitrate Formulations" ADPA Inter. Symp: Compatibility of Plastics & Other Materials with Explosives, Propellants, Pyrotechnics and Processing of Explosives, Propellants & Ingredients, San Diego, CA  April 23, 1991.

"Characterization of Thermal Hazards" Eastern Analytical Wk., Somerset,NJ; Nov.14,90.

"Ammonium Nitrate-Composites and Nitrate Ester: Study of Thermal Stability U.S. Army Ballistic Research Lab. Aberdeen, MD; June 23 1989.

"The Thermal Stability of Ammonium Nitrate Emulsions" Los Alamos National Lab.; Los Alamos, NM  Dec. 13, 1988.

"Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Nitrate Salts" JANNAF Safety & Environ. Protect. Sub. Monterey, CA, 5/24/88.

"Thermal Hazards Analysis of Ammonium Nitrate-Based Composites", presented at 17th North American Thermal Analysis Society Conf., Orlando, FL, Oct. 10, 1988.

Thermal Decomposition of Hydroxylamine Nitrate" presentation at Optoelectronics & Laser Applications in Science & Engineering,  Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 14, 1988.

"Thermal Stability of Hydroxylamine Nitrate" to Aerojet, Sacramento, CA, Sept. 13,'88.

"Ammonium Nitrate: Thermal Stability in Composite Mixtures."Eglin AFB, FL, June, 22, 1987.

"Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium & Hydroxylammonium Nitrate Salts" Edwards AF, Lancaster, CA, 11/20/87.

"Thermal Decomposition Studies at NMIMT" presented Los Alamos NL NM, Nov. 16, 1987.

"NMIMT Capabilities and Thermal Hazard Studies" to Hazards Group at Dow Chemical, Midland, Aug. 14, 1987

"Thermolysis of Hydroxylamine Nitrate" to Aerojet Propulsion Sacramento, CA, May 20,'87

"Thermal Hazards of Energetic Materials" NMIMT Chem. Dept., Socorro,NM, Jan. 21, 87.

"FT-IR Analysis of Aqueous, Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide Solutions," Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Houston, Nov.19-21, 1986.

"Effects of Various Alkaline Chemicals on Phase Behavior of Surfactant/Brine Oil Mixtures." Int’l Soc. Petroleum Engineers, Phx., Apr. 10, 1985.

"Alkaline Chemicals, Effects on Surfactant Phase Behavior" NM Petroleum Recovery Research Center, April 4, 1985.