Electrical Fire Accident Investigation Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.3138

EDUCATION

Syracuse University – Bachelor of Sciences Degree – Television & Radio Major, 1974
Newhouse School of Communications

FCC Broadcast Electrical Engineering License  (U.S. Gov’t  Examination & Issue)

Factory Electronic Engineering and Technical Service Training for:

Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Advent, Denon, Yamaha, Harmon Kardon, Onkyo, Kenwood, Magnevox, Phillips, Bang & Olufson, Luxman, Koss, Uniden, General Instruments, Luxor, JVC, RCA, NEC, McIntosh, General Electric, Quasar, Marantz, Sansui, others.

New York State Fire Academy and Other Fire Related Courses:

RELATED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Electrical Forensics Expert in Fire Sciences:

Acquired FCC Broadcast Electrical Engineering License.
Certified New York State Fire Investigator:  Level I
Certified New York State Fire Investigator:  Level II
Independent Electrical & Electronics Consultant in the Areas of Fire, Accident & Product Failure Analysis for Insurance Companies, Private Attorneys, District Attorneys, Law Enforcement, Private & Municipal Fire Investigators.

1990-present

Performed Repairs, Monetary Estimates, Fraud Determination & Failure Analysis on Fire and Smoke Damaged Electronic Equipment for Insurance Companies.  DOWN TO EARTH ELECTRONICS, INC.

1984-1990

Court Qualified as an Electrical & Electronics Expert in New York & Pennsylvania.
Court Qualified as an Electrical & Electronics Expert in United States District Court.

RELATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

New York State Association of Fire Investigators
Syracuse Insurance Claims Association
Onondaga County Fire Investigator Apprentice Program
New York State Fire Academy Faculty-Student Association

RELATED TEACHING EXPERIENCE

New York State Fire Academy:  Instructed the following courses:
Investigating Electrical Fires, Cause & Origin.
Fire/Arson Investigation Principles for the Insurance Industry. Electrical Fire Causes, Product Subrogation & Liability.

Instructor for Municipal Fire Investigators:  Electrical Fire Investigations
New York City Fire Marshall’s Investigative Unit
City of Syracuse Fire Department
Onondaga County Fire Investigation Team
Oswego County Fire Investigation Team

Speaker/Instructor at many New York State Fire Investigator’s Conventions
Conducted Electrical Workshops/Instruction: NY State Fire Investigator’s Convention
Featured Speaker at Syracuse Insurance Claims Association Seminars
Featured Speaker at Binghamton Insurance Claims Association Seminar
Featured Speaker at Utica Insurance Claims Association Seminar
Trainer for “in-house” Insurance Company Workshops
Instructed Syracuse Fire Department Personnel
Instructed New York City Fire Marshall Trainees
Instructed Oswego County Fire Investigator Personnel

ELECTRONICS & ELECTRICAL TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Engineering Department: Benchmark Media Systems Inc. Syracuse, NY.  2006-2009

Perform Electronic Service on Customer Equipment
Build Prototype Equipment for Testing, Redesign & Future Production
Provide Direct Technical Assistance to Company’s Head Design Engineer
Use Variety of Test Equipment and Micro-Soldering Through Microscopes

Owner/Operator DOWN TO EARTH ELECTRONICS, INC. Syracuse, NY. 1984-1990

Performed and Directed Technical Repair Services to the Following Types of Equipment:

Business Telephone Systems

Battery Backup Systems

Business Music & Paging  Systems

Medical Signaling Systems

Commercial & Residential Satellite Systems  

Fax & Copy Machines

Commercial & Consumer Video Equipment

Automotive Sound & Security

Commercial & Consumer Sound Equipment

Small Electric Appliances

Marine Electronics (radio & navigation)

Misc. Electronic Equipment

Commercial & Residential Security Systems

Cellular Telephone

Analyzed Smoke and Fire Damaged Electronic Equipment For Insurance Companies for  Serviceability, Fraud Detection and Failure Mode.

Technical Supervisor for GORDON ELECTRONICS, INC. Syracuse, NY.  1979-1984

Repaired All Electronic Equipment. Audio, Video, Customers Units, Store Stock
Repaired Commercial & Residential Projection Television Equipment
Designed & Supervised the Installation of Custom Electronics Packages
Responsible for Customer Satisfaction Regarding All Aspects of Technical Service
Trained Technical Staff & Sales Staff on Technical Topics.
Maintained Service and Test Equipment

Owner/Partner: THE STEREO REPAIR SHOP, Syracuse, NY.     1975-1979

Repaired Two Way Radio Equipment
Repaired Stereo, Public Address and Musical Sound Equipment
Repaired Large & Small Electric Appliances
Repaired Marine Electronics
Repaired Amateur Radio Equipment
Repaired Television Equipment

Equipment Operations for WCNY-TV/FM, Syracuse, NY.1971-1976

TV/FM Broadcast Engineering and Production Departments.
Acquired FCC Broadcast Electrical Engineering License (U.S. Gov’t Issue)
Broadcast Engineer, Television & FM Departments
Headed 16mm Cinematography Department  (Television Division)
Television Camera, Lighting & Studio Operations – In-House & Remote Locations
Instrumental in Technical Construction of 16 Track Recording Studio (FM Dept)
Television & FM Equipment Maintenance