Logo

Provides Testimony In

Engineer Natural Gas, Engineer Propane Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Gas Codes Standards, Gas Appliance, Propane Liquefied Petroleum Gas Container, Propane Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industrial Equipment Malfunctions, Gas Residential Explosions Fires, Gas Commercial Explosions Fires, Recreational Vehicle Fires, Gas Grill Fires, Propane Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LP Gas, Natural Gas, Fuel Gas, Gas Appliances, Acetylene, Torches, Heaters, Carbon Monoxide, Gas Grills, Butane, MAAP Gas, Propylene, Stoves, Ovens, Gas Regulators, Gas Valves, Compressed Gas Equipment, Valves, Gas Codes, Check Valves, Gate Valves Globe Valves, Control Valves, Ball Valves, Butterfly Valves, Relief Valves, Excess Flow Valves, Water Heaters, Gas Furnaces, Residential Gas Boilers, Gas Delivery, Plastic Piping, Appliance Venting, Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, Forklift, LP Gas, Gas Refrigerators, Barbeque, LPG,

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 1975

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Kearney State College, Nebraska, 1975

Professional Engineering Certificates

Mechanical Engineering, Iowa – 10183 Mechanical Engineering, Texas – 83989 Mechanical Engineering, Alabama – 29698-E Mechanical Engineering, Arkansas – 13583

Affiliations:

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Life Member
  • National Society of Professional Engineers; Member
  • Texas Society of Professional Engineers; Member
  • International Association of Arson Investigators; member
  • National Academy of Forensic Engineers; Board Certified Diplomate Forensic Engineering1 (DFE), Fellow, President Elect (2019)
  • National Fire Protection Association; committee member
  • NFPA Technical Committee on LP-Gases at Utility Gas Plants (NFPA 59)
  • ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems
  • ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences
  • ASTM Committee E58 on Forensic Engineering
  • Sub Chairman E58.02 Product Defect Incidents
  • UL Committee STP 125
  • UL 51, Standard for Power-Operated Pumps and Bypass Valves for Anhydrous Ammonia, LP-Gas, and Propylene
  • UL 125, Flow Control Valves for Anhydrous Ammonia and LP-Gas
  • UL 132, Standard for Safety Relief Valves for Anhydrous Ammonia and LP-Gas
  • UL 565, the Standard for Safety for Liquid-Level Gauges and Indicators for Anhydrous Ammonia and LP-Gas
  • UL 644, the Standard for Safety for Container Assemblies for LP-Gas
  • UL Committee STP 144
  • UL 144, LP-Gas Regulators
  • UL Committee STP 252
  • UL 252, Standard for Compressed Gas Regulators
  • UL 252A, Standard for Compressed Gas Regulator Accessories
  • UL 407, Standard for Manifolds for Compressed Gases
  • UL Committee STP 21
  • UL 21, LP-Gas Hose
  • UL 569, Pigtails and Flexible Hose Connectors for LP-Gas
  • UL Committee STP 147
  • UL 123, Oxy-Fuel Gas Torches
  • UL 147, Hand-Held Torches for Fuel Gases
  • UL 147A, Nonrefillable (Disposable) Type Fuel Gas Cylinder Assemblies
  • UL 147B, Nonrefillable (Disposable) Type Metal Container Assemblies for Butane
  • UL Committee STP 25
  • UL 25, Meters for Flammable and Combustible Liquids and LP-Gas
  • UL 25A, Standard for Meters for Gasoline and Gasoline/Ethanol Blends with Nominal Ethanol Concentrations up to 85 Percent (E0-E85)
  • UL 25B, Meters for Diesel Fuel, Biodiesel Fuel, Diesel/Biodiesel Concentrations up to 20 Percent (B20), Kerosene, and Fuel Oil
  • UL Committee STP 79
  • UL 79, Power-Operated Pumps for Petroleum Dispensing Products
  • UL 79A, Outline of Investigation For Power Operated Pumps For Gasoline/Ethanol Blends With Nominal Ethanol Concentrations up to 85 Percent (E0-E85)
  • UL 79B, Outline of Investigation for Power-Operated Pumps for Diesel Fuel, Biodiesel Fuel, Diesel/Biodiesel Blends With Nominal Biodiesel
  • Concentrations Up To 20 Percent (B20), Kerosene, and Fuel Oil
  • UL Committee STP 567
  • UL 567, Emergency Breakaway Fittings, Swivel Connectors and Pipe-Connection Fittings for Petroleum Products and LP-Gas
  • UL 567A, Emergency Breakaway Fittings, Swivel Connectors and Pipe-Connection Fittings for Gasoline and Gasoline/Ethanol Blends with Nominal
  • Ethanol Concentrations up to 85 Percent (E0 – E85)
  • UL 567B, Emergency Breakaway Fittings, Swivel Connectors and Pipe-Connection Fittings for Diesel Fuel, Biodiesel Fuel, Diesel/Biodiesel Blends with Nominal Biodiesel Concentrations up to 20 Percent (B20), Kerosene, and Fuel Oil
  • UL Committee STP 79
  • CSA J101.17, Outdoor Cooking TSC
  • Z21.58/CSA 1.6, Outdoor cooking gas appliances
  • Z21.89/CSA 1.18, Outdoor cooking specialty gas appliances
  • Z21.42, Gas-fired illuminating appliances
  • CSA 2.15, Gas-Fired Domestic Lighting Appliances
  • CSA U101.2, Unvented Heaters TSC
  • Z21.11.2, Gas fired room heaters, volume 11, unvented room heaters
  • Z21.11.3, Gas-fired room heaters, volume III, propane-fired portable emergency use heater
  • Z21.76, Gas-fired unvented catalytic room heaters for use with propane gas
  • Z21.91, Ventless firebox enclosures for gas-fired unvented decorative room heaters

Experience:

ENGINEERING
1995 to Present
A business of forensic engineering2; consulting, accident investigation and expert witness work in matters involving fuel gases such as propane and natural gas. Member on ASTM, UL & NFPA committees, to write standards. (See above)

SMITH-BLAIR, INC.
1994-1995 – Engineering Manager
Managed Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Assurance.
Engineering department activities included development and maintenance of clamp & coupling products for water works applications as well as large water meters. Quality Assurance group serviced manufacturing facility utilizing welding, fabrication, machining, assembly and testing.

SHERWOOD, DIVISION OF HARSCO CORPORATION
1992- 1994 – Manager, Technical Services
Liaison to counsel in products liability litigation; 30(b)(6) witness
Managed Technical Services Group, providing assistance to Engineering, Marketing and production. Served on NPGA T&S and Safety Committees to write standards and bulletins.

ENGINEERED CONTROLS INT’L., INC.
1989 – 1992 – Engineering Manager
Department Activities included development and maintenance of valve and regulator product lines for LP-Gas, ammonia and other compressed gases.
Served on national committees (CGA, ANSI and NPGA) to review industry standards. Awarded patent US5215117 for double check filler valve for European market. Taught session on LP-Gas regulators for Railroad Commission of Texas LP-Gas Division.
30(b)(6) witness in products liability litigation

REGO COMPANY
1987- 1989 – Engineering Manager
Department Activities included development and maintenance of valve and regulator product lines for LP-Gas, ammonia and other compressed gases.
Served on national committees (CGA, ANSI and NPGA) to review industry standards. Awarded patent US4860784/EP0377945B1 for sealing mechanism for non-rising stem valves. 30(b)(6) witness in products liability litigation

CRANE COMPANY (Valve Division)
1985 to 1987 – Project Manager, Special Projects
Set up small operation to modify company products to customer applications. Closed manufacturing operation – moved inventory and equipment to new location.

1984-1985 – Manager, Quality Control
A manufacturing facility for casting and machining gray and ductile iron valves. Worked to get foundry qualified to Ford’s Q-1 program.

1982-1984 – Chief Engineer, Iron & Steel Valves (Crane Co)
Managed a group of six engineering personnel in the development of industrial valves – gate, globe and check. Product development encompassed interpreting specifications to development, release to manufacture and modification to manufacturing processes.

1982 – Senior Engineer, Iron & Steel Valves
Maintaining product lines, reviewing product change requests for design suitability and editing and maintaining Flow of Fluids, TP-410, (an industry standard of fluid calculations). Other responsibilities included application engineering support to sales and preparation of design analysis for customer review regarding suitability of values in seismic applications.

FISHER CONTROLS COMPANY
1977-1982 – Project Engineer, Design
Lead engineer on product development projects for control valves and actuators manufactured to ANSI B16.34 and ASME B&PV Code – Sections III and VIII. Work included specification review, time estimates, scheduling, formulation of basic designs, finished design review, verification and coordinating development with Manufacturing Engineering. Other responsibilities included teaching at customer schools, on-campus interviewing of engineering candidates and on-going product updates.

1975- 1977 – Project Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering
Responsible for the specification and installation of machine tools for in-house use. Maintenance of procedures and controls for manufacturing processes.
Design and engineering of a six axis, numerically controlled drill.

1 DFE: The NAFE is a founding (charter) member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB). As such, individuals holding a member grade status or higher within the NAFE are Board Certified Diplomats of the CESB through the NAFE.

2 NAFE Definition: Forensic Engineering is the application of the art and science of engineering in the jurisprudence system, requiring the services of legally qualified professional engineers. Forensic engineering may include investigation of the physical causes of accidents and other sources of claims and litigation, preparation of engineering reports, testimony at hearings and trials in administrative or judicial proceedings, and the rendition of advisory opinions to assist the resolution of disputes affecting life or property.

Speak With This Expert For Free

Request This Expert

Can’t Find The Right Expert?

Click Here & We Will Help You