Provides Testimony In
Engineer, Firearms, Ammunition, Identification, Ballistic Matching, Toolmark Identification, Gun, ammunition, gun accuracy function, design manufacturing defect identification analysis, design evaluation, weapon failure analysis, storage deterioration, ammunition component analysis, ammunition reloading issues, shooting scene reconstruction, shooting accident analysis, determination of range, direction position of shooter, terminal effects against inanimate objects, wound ballistics, gun victim distance determination, trigger pull safety device operation analysis, trajectory determination.
Summary
Specializing in weapons systems research, consulting, and litigation support. Technical areas include firearms, ballistics, ammunition, munitions, explosives, plus related crime & accident scene reconstruction, and intellectual property. Provided sworn testimony over 100 times in numerous US state & federal courts. Published & presented numerous research papers, and delivered many training seminars to attorneys, forensic scientists, engineers, law enforcement, and investigators. Certified Range Safety Officer and Pistol & Personal Protection Instructor.
Supplementary Education And Training
- 95-97 Courtroom skills and report writing training courses from Bond Solon and The Academy of Experts.
- 86-99 Various internal and external training courses in areas such as safety, procurement management, space technology, desert survival, counter terrorism tactics, risk management, etc.
- 86-92 Various military technology and tactics training courses undertaken at Royal Military College of Science – RMCS (Cranfield University Defence Academy of the UK). These included explosives technology, ordnance and munitions design, IED design & construction, plus extensive training in ammunition & ballistics (internal, intermediate, external, and terminal – including wound ballistics).
- 1982 Gateshead Technical College, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom.
- Non-destructive testing (NDT) technology (3 months). Radiographic, ultrasonic, MPI and dye penetrant techniques.
- 77-81 4 year engineering apprenticeship with British Steel Corporation. (CGLI & TEC qualifications)
Employment Experience
Before becoming an independent consultant worked for department of defense as scientist/engineer responsible for research, design, development, assessment, and reverse engineering of weapons systems (guns, ammunition, missiles, explosives). Author of over 20 scientific research papers and several patents.
Employment History
- 2000 – Now Consultant with ARC (technical & forensic research & consulting – firearms / munitions / reconstruction)
- 2000 – 2004 Adjunct Professor at Indiana Institute of Technology, lecturing advanced courses on BA & BSc degree programs.
- 1996 – 2000 Self-employed consultant in UK (technical, forensic, and business consulting)
- 1986 -1999 United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, Westminster, London.
Scientist / professional engineer / project manager – working on guns, ammunition, missiles, rocketry, and energetic materials (explosives & pyrotechnics). Projects involved research, design, development, performance assessment, mid-life improvement, reverse engineering, and forensics.
Firearms and Ballistics Duties
Trigger mechanism testing & comparison for criminal trials
Safety and function testing for criminal trials
Accuracy and consistency testing for criminal trials
Produce gun function videos for criminal trials
Production of shooting incident reconstruction calculations and diagrams for criminal trials
Acted as an expert consultant/witness in over 200 legal cases between 1995 and 1999
New gun and component design
Firing trials design, instrumentation specification, trials execution and supervision, plus subsequent microscopic analysis and NDE evaluation of components, data analysis, and report production
Foreign weapon assessment, including vehicular platform where appropriate – reverse engineering, materials analysis, microscopic analysis and comparison to NATO equivalents. Performance assessment (including firing trials design, execution, data analysis, and reporting). Final Assessment reports distributed to military intelligence agencies in many countries.
Identification and rectification of production, material, and performance problems relating to in-service guns
Provision of technical advice and reports to UK Government, Commonwealth nations, NATO alliance countries etc
Technical input to answers given in response to ‘master questions’ asked in UK Parliament
Application of advanced materials in gun design
Gun and component design optimization from a reliability and durability perspective – feeding, ignition, extraction, and ejection
Gun and component design optimization from a safety and durability perspective – drop, knock, and vibration testing
Gun design optimization from an accuracy and consistency perspective – sighting and grouping
Managed research program on gun barrel wear and erosion
Blast overpressure analysis and its effects on personnel. Developed computer software to accurately analyze blast overpressure trial results and predict maximum human exposure results under various operating conditions
Microscopic examination of fired ammunition components to determine weapon design effectiveness and quality of manufacture – extractor and ejector operation
Selection of most appropriate materials and processes to optimize gun performance (polymers. Polymer composites, metals, metal matrix, composites, mineral composites, heat treatment techniques etc)
Microscopic comparison and analysis of failed gun components
Academic Qualifications
- 1997 Henley Business School, Reading University /Henley Management College, Brunel University
- Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)
- 1990 University of Greenwich, London, UK / Thames Polytechnic / Woolwich Polytechnic
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BEng: – with First Class Honors).
- Recognized in the US under the terms of the Washington Accord
Professional Qualifications & Memberships
- 2016 Diplomate; International Board of Forensic Engineering Sciences (D-IBFES)
- 2013 Fellow; American Academy of Forensic Sciences (F-AAFS)
- 2011 Fellow; Chartered Management Institute (FCMI)
- 2005 Member; International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE)
- 2001 Professional Licensed Member of National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
- 2001 Registered Professional Engineer with FEANI (Eur Ing) (approx 30 countries)
- 2000 Member; American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- 1999 Fellow; Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE)
- 1997 Founder Member; Expert Witness Institute (MEWI) (past member)
- 1995 Vetted by the UK Law Society (expert consultant / expert witness)
- 1992 Member; Institute of Materials (MIM) (past member)
- 1992 Qualified as a Chartered Professional Engineer with the British Engineering Council (CEng)
Continuing Education, Training, & Development (post 2001)
Nov 01 Forensic Science conference at University of Louisville Law School.
Sept 03 Death Penalty conference, Indianapolis.
Oct 03 Conference; Ballistics; from the Shop Floor to the Courtroom, DePaul University, Chicago.
Dec 03 Forensic Science training seminar, Indianapolis.
Feb 04 Forensic Science training seminar, Indianapolis.
Sept 04 Forensic Science for Investigators, Indianapolis.
Apr 06 Forensic Science Symposium, Indianapolis.
Apr 06 Indiana Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE) Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
May 06 Advanced Defensive Pistol Course.
Sept 06 SIG Factory Certified Armorer Course.
Oct 06 Forensic Investigation, Dr Henry C Lee, Carmel, Indiana.
Feb 07 American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 59th Annual Scientific Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
Apr 07 ISPE Annual Convention, Indianapolis IN.
Jul 07 National Institute of Justice Annual Conference, Arlington VA.
Jul 07 National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) Annual Conference, Denver CO.
Feb 08 AAFS 60th Annual Scientific Meeting, Washington, DC.
Apr 08 ISPE Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
Jul 08 NAFE Annual Convention, Portland, OR.
Feb 09 AAFS 61st Annual Scientific Meeting, Denver, CO.
May 09 ISPE Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
Jul 09 National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Annual Convention, St Louis, MO.
Jan 10 NAFE Training Seminar, New Orleans, LA.
Feb 10 AAFS 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA.
May 10 ISPE Annual Convention, Indianapolis IN.
Feb 11 AAFS 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Jan 12 NAFE Training Seminar, Miami Beach, FL.
Feb 12 AAFS 64th Annual Scientific Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Oct 12 NLADA Life in the Balance Conference, St Louis, MO.
Feb 13 AAFS 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, Washington DC.
Jun 13 ISPE Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
Feb 14 AAFS 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA.
Feb 15 AAFS 67th Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Sept 15 AAFS ESS International Scientific Meeting, Toronto, Canada.
Feb 16 AAFS 68th Annual Scientific Meeting, Las Vegas, NV.
Jun 17 ISPE Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
Feb 18 AAFS 7Oth Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA.
Feb 19 AAFS 71st Annual Scientific Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Feb 20 AAFS 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Anaheim, CA.
Feb 21 AAFS 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting, (virtual)
Jun 23 ISPE Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
Achievements & Activities
* Court qualified expert in numerous states, & US Federal Courts.
* One of the youngest people to be elected to Fellowship of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
* My expert report format was adopted by the Academy of Experts.
* Secretary to UK explosives safety, performance, and compatibility committees (95-98).
* NRA Certified Range Safety Officer.
* NRA Certified pistol and personal protection instructor.
* SIG Factory Certified Law Enforcement Armorer (2006 to 2009)
Offices Held & Awards
Available upon request
Achievements & Activities
Available upon request
Research Papers
Available upon request
Patents
Available upon request
Scientific Paper Presentations & Training Seminars Delivered
Available upon request
Conference Presentations and Training Seminars Delivered
Available upon request
Publications
Available upon request
Visits to Manufacturing, Test, and Research Facilities
Available upon request
Member of the Following Institution of Mechanical Engineers Special Interest Groups
Available upon request
Member of the Following American Society of Mechanical Engineers Special Interest Groups
Available upon request
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