Fire Protection Investigation Expert Witness

Professional Education

Juris Doctorate
Humphrey’s College School of Law – Stockton, California
(May 1994)

Bachelor Of Arts Degree – Political Science
California State University, Stanislaus – Turlock, California
(May 1988)

Associate In Arts Degree – Fire Science
San Joaquin Delta College – Stockton, California
(January 1982)

Public Administration Training

Public Managers’ Certificate Program
University of the Pacific – Stockton, California

State Management Training Program
California State Fire Marshal’s Office – Sacramento, California

Summary of Qualifications

Highly versatile experience with the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, having a thorough understanding of the laws, rules, and regulations governing fire and life safety.

Professional skills include:

Twenty-four (24) years of civil service and public administration experience
Developed strategies and providing recommendations to other executive managers

Provided senior-level consultation and advice on laws, regulations, and policies

Utilized legal analysis skills and knowledge of fire and life safety codes

Performed budgetary planning, fiscal administration, and program cost control

Directed the work of a multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff

Cultivated positive relationships using consensus building skills

Produced clear, concise, and well-organized written communications

Planned, organized, prioritized, and managed multiple special projects

Possess a comprehensive understanding of the state and federal legislative processes, combined with extensive experience developing and maintaining positive relationships with all levels of public administration.

Career Highlights

Public Administration / Management

Chief of State Fire Marshal Operations, reported directly to the California State Fire Marshal, and served as one of three State Fire Marshal executive managers.  Served on the executive management staff of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and had responsibility for six (6) State Fire Marshal Divisions, and the direct supervision of five (6) Division Chiefs (managers).  Indirectly supervised 69 staff members located throughout the state of California.

Acquired a thorough understanding of fire engineering, law enforcement, code development, pipeline safety, CUPA responsibilities, and fire prevention while serving in increasingly challenging positions as a Deputy State Fire Marshal (III, II, and I), Supervising Deputy State Fire Marshal, Division Chief, and Assistant Deputy Director for the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (Chief of Operations).

Utilized extensive public administration leadership to provide decision-making on strategic planning, program development, program management, inter-agency consultation, legal analysis and regulatory compliance, investigations, law enforcement, fire and life safety inspections, policy and procedures development, public affairs, public education, and community relations issues.

Provided management advice, recommendations, and senior-level decision making on a wide range of complex organizational State Fire Marshal issues involving all aspects of State Fire Marshal activities.

Operations / Management

Used a strong knowledge of quantitative business methods and an “attention-to-detail” approach to analyze programs, create solutions, and consistently meet the needs of the State Fire Marshal.

Initiated proactive fiscal management techniques to administer operating budgets, developed Budget Change Proposals, Legislative Proposals and implemented effective cost controls to comply with budgetary guidelines.

Established a strong team-oriented work environment and used proven personnel management techniques to train, motivate, and supervise as many as 69 State Fire Marshal employees. Designed strategies to facilitate workflow, maximize productivity, and instill enthusiasm.

Created reports and presentations using applicable databases.

Fire Safety / Fire Prevention

Utilized highly adaptable management skills to direct multiple administrative and field programs involving fire and life safety, which include code enforcement, investigations, hazardous materials, land use, law enforcement, fire engineering, pipeline safety, and other related State Fire Marshal activities.

Provided management, supervision, and consultation to numerous local and statewide agencies and served as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Field Operations; Division Chief of Fire Engineering, and Assistant Deputy Director, Chief of State Fire Marshal Operations, which includes oversight of six (6) divisions of the State Fire Marshal.  These State Fire Marshal divisions include Code Enforcement North/South (Statewide); Code Enforcement-Plan Review; Code Development and Analysis; Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety; and Fire Engineering.

Served as Chair of the State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Life Safety Building Standards Advisory Board.

Served as the State Fire Marshal’s representative to the State Historical Building Advisory Board.

Identified, analyzed, improved, and managed work processes; created program goals, policies, and operating procedures; gathered and analyzed data; and presented problem solving solutions.

Legal Analysis / Law Enforcement

Sworn State Fire Marshal Peace Officer (California Penal Code 830.3/830.2) and licensed private-sector California attorney with extensive experience analyzing State Fire Marshal
laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.  Well acquainted with the State Fire Marshal’s fire and life safety codes (Title 19 and Title 24, California Code of Regulations), the National Fire Protection Association Standards; Uniform and International Building and Fire Codes; and the California Public Resources Code.

Analyzed legislation, drafted regulations, researched legal issues, coordinated enforcement activity, reviewed code enforcement appeals, developed state building and fire codes, and represented the State Fire Marshal before various public and private-sector organizations.

Served as an advisor, consultant, and/or State Fire Marshal representative on committees and advisory groups; drafted position papers for the Governor’s Office; testified before Legislative Committees; and wrote/updated various State Fire Marshal manuals.

Built a successful private law practice representing clients in both State and Federal Court.

Marketing / Public Affairs

Utilized exceptional public affairs and marketing strengths to promote a positive first-rate image for the State Fire Marshal.  Served as a spokesperson for various State Fire Marshal programs and prepared articles published in external statewide and national publications.

Served as a State Fire Marshal Liaison with the Motion Picture and Entertainment Industry.

Frequent State Fire Marshal spokesperson and media contact (both print/television) for State Fire Marshal issues, as well as for national fire issues as the Station Fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

Employment History

Expert 2301’s Private Law Firm
(Name Provided Upon Request)
Lodi, California
(August 2005-Present)
Positions Held:
Attorney at Law; Registered Lobbyist; Owner

Expert 2301’s Private Fire Design Company
(Name Provided Upon Request
Lodi, California
(March 2006-Present)
Positions Held:
Managing Partner & General Counsel
A Private Advocates Company
Name Provided upon Request
Lodi, California
(October 2005-Present)
Positions Held:
Partner

Office Of The California State Fire Marshal
Sacramento, California
(October 1982 – August 2006) (Retired August 2006)
Positions Held:
Assistant Deputy Director (Chief of Operations)
Division Chief
Supervising Deputy State Fire Marshal
Deputy State Fire Marshal III
Deputy State Fire Marshal II
Deputy State Fire Marshal I

Expert’s 2301 Private Law Firm in California
(Name Provided Upon Request)
Sacramento, California
(June 1996-July 2005)
Positions Held:
Attorney at Law

United States Navy – Oakland/Stockton, California
(April 1980 – September 1982)
Positions Held:
Firefighter/Apparatus Engineer (GS 5)

Training Courses

POST Basic Police Academy -1997
Supervision 3 and 4 – CDF Academy
Leadership – California State Training Center
Effective Presentations – California State Training Center
Law Enforcement Surveillance – CDF Santa Rosa
Cost / Benefit Analysis – California State Training Center
State Rulemaking Process – California State Training Center
State Legislative Process – California State Training Center
Fire Investigation I – Solano Community College
Fire Investigation II – Los Rios Community College District
Fire Prevention IC – Los Rios Community College District
Emergency Medical Technician I – Yuba Community College
Firefighter Rescue – United States Air Force
Fire Protection Specialist – United States Air Force
Fire Protection Supervisor – United States Air Force
Supervision and Management – United States Navy

Military History

Firefighter Rescue Crewmember
United States Air Force – Various Locations
(December 1975 – December 1979)

Honorably discharged following a four-year tour of duty. Received the Presidential Unit Citation and awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

Publications

Available upon request.

Certifications / Licenses

POST-Basic Credential (Police Academy-18 weeks) 1997

Admitted to practice law in California and the 9th Circuit of the Federal Court, Eastern District since 1996

Professional Affiliations

Member, State Bar of California
Member, Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Member, District Attorneys’ Association of California
Member, National Fire Protection Association, Building Fire Safety Systems Section
Member, International Code Council
Member, International Association of Arson Investigators, Attorney Advisory Committee
Member, National Association of Fire Investigators
Member, California State Firefighters’ Association
Member, Lodi Chamber of Commerce
Member, Capitol City Trial Lawyers’ Association
Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers-Allied Professional Group Member
Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers-No. California/Nevada Chapter
Member, Uniform Fire Code Association

Excellent References Available Upon Request