Forensic Environmental Engineer Expert Witness

ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

• Private Engineering Co. Professional Engineer 1988-Present
  • Consulting engineer for manufacturers, attorneys and claims adjusters: design total enclosures, prepare major and minor constructions and operating permits; calculate emissions using mass balance; provide technical recommendations for compliance issues; designed manufacturing process changes to reduce pollution.
• Industrial Hygienist 1988-Present
  • Consulting industrial hygienist for manufacturers and their legal counsel: audited manufacturing plants for compliance with OSHA standards; researched and interpreted material safety data sheets (MSDS); monitored exposure to noise and air contaminants; wrote hearing conservation plans, respiratory protection plans, and performed hazard assessments.
• Safety Engineer 1998-Present
  • Consulting safety engineer for manufacturers: developed safety and health plan for manufacturers; performed lock out/tag out surveys; inspected machine guarding; evaluated powered industrial vehicle programs; specified safety equipment for various work tasks; provided hazard communications training.

United States Environmental Protection Agency

• Project Engineer 1978-1984
  • Designed and built air-monitoring network for Southeastern United States; consultant to state and local governments on compliance with the Clean Air Act; EPA Region IV representative on task forces for Clean Air Act Amendments and Acid Rain; evaluated State Implementation Plans and wrote Federal Register Proposals and Final Rules.
• Enforcement Officer 1984-1991
  • Federal enforcement officer on civil and criminal cases; calculated economic benefit of non-compliance; designed pollution controls to bring violators into compliance; prepared affidavits presenting engineering evidence in criminal case; trained federal and state enforcement officers in inspection techniques.

United States Navy (Reserve Officer – 40 hours/month)

• Inspector General 1998-2008
  • Audited naval shipyards and industrial activities business metrics; inspected naval shipyards and industrial activities environmental, safety and health programs; led team of twelve subject matter experts (such as accountants, human resource specialists, and information technology professionals) auditing shipyards and industrial activities.
• Engineering Duty Officer 1981-2008
  • As Ship Superintendent tracked work in progress to assure contract specifications; directly observed shipboard safety procedures; tracked daily and weekly progress and key event milestones for the Shipyard Commander and Ship’s Commanding Officer; troubleshoot production problems on the waterfront; as Commanding Officer (CO) coordinated over 10,000 technician and mechanic workdays to shipyards. Six tours as CO.

RELATED EXPERIENCE

• National Counsel of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
  • Subject Matter Expert (SME) 1989 – 2016
    • One of twelve SMEs who defined the scope of environmental engineering; determined the critical skills required of professional engineers (PE) practicing in this field; wrote all the 20questions for the first several licensing examinations and served as referee on challenges posed by examinees; subject areas included industrial hygiene, health and safety. Developed the test specifications for professional activities and knowledge/skills required.

EDUCATION

• Speed Engineering School, University of Louisville
  • Master of Engineering with Specialization in the field of Environmental Engineering 1983
    • Thesis: A Federally Funded/State Operated Precipitation Chemistry Monitoring Network
• Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University
  • Master of Business Administration (Operations and Management) 1989
• Speed Engineering School, University of Louisville
  • Bachelor of Science (Applied Science) 1978

LICENSES, DIPLOMAS, CERTIFICATIONS AND COMMISSION

• Professional Engineer (GA, KY, AL, NC) 1982 – Present
  • First licensed in Kentucky in 1982
• Diplomate Forensic Engineer, National Academy of Forensic Engineers (F-460) 1988 – Present
• Diplomate Environmental Engineer, American Academy of Environmental Engineers (86-10004) 1986 – Present
• Certified Industrial Hygienist, American Board of Industrial Hygiene (5804-CP) 1992 – Present
• Certified Safety Professional (Engineer), Board of Certified Safety Professionals (15560) 1998 – Present
• Captain, Engineering Duty (US Navy, retired) 1967 – 2008

PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS

• Lexicon for Alphabet Soup: Environmental Credentials Identified, Environmental Claims Journal, 28: 1, 82-96 (January 2016)
• Forensic Engineering Critique of Mold Expert Opinions, Environmental Claims Journal, 27:1, 50-59 (February 2015)
• Forensic Engineering Analysis of a Mobile Refuse Collection Vehicle Accident, Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, XXXI, 2 (December 2014)

MEMBERSHIPS

• American Academy of Environmental Engineers
• American Board of Industrial Hygiene
• American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
• American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• National Academy of Forensic Engineers, Fellow
• National Society of Professional Engineers