Electrical Fire Investigation Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.234

Maryland

Educational Background

1959, BS EE, University of Maryland

1962, MS EE, University of Maryland

1968, PhD EE, University of Maryland

1982, Electrical Fire Investigation, University of Wisconsin

1983, Grounding of Electrical Distribution Systems, Electrical Design Institute, NC State Univ.

1985, Computer System Power Supply Design, Electrical Design Institute, NC State Univ.

1988, Electrical Fire Investigation, Extension School, Univ. of Delaware

1989, Fire and Explosion Investigator Training, National Association of Fire Investigators Seminar
1992, Lightning Protection Seminar, Baltimore Section of IEEE

1993, AC Electrical Systems in Boats, ABYC Seminar, Tampa, FL

Experience

1968-Present, U.S. Naval Academy
Department Chairman, 1991-1993, Currently Associate Chairman, Electrical Engineering Department, and Professor of Electrical Engineering.  Primary fields and laboratories taught are electricity and electronics, computer electronics, computer interfacing and electro-mechanical energy conversion.  In addition to teaching duties, have, for the past 15 years, performed research funded for U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to determine susceptibility of electronic components to environmental stresses.  Presently affiliated with the U.S. Naval Surface Weapons Center, Annapolis, performing research in shipboard electrical power system stability and fault analysis.  Have presented papers at various professional society meetings, including International Measurement and Test Technology Conference, and Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference.

1968-1977, Iit Research Institute
Communications Systems Analyst (part-time position). Performed modeling and test design for co-sited equipments.

1966-1968, University Of Maryland
Electrical Engineering Instructor, Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, College Park, MD (Main Campus)

1963-1966, Johns Hopkins University - Applied Physics Lab
Control Systems Engineer; performed missile autopilot and other control system design and analysis using analog and digital computers for system simulation.

1961-1963, U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory
Instrumentation and Test Engineer; developed test procedures, obtained data and analyzed results for various electrical/electronic systems.

Expert 234 has been a consultant since 1974 in electrical accidents and fire investigations, having been the primary investigator of over 200 accidents and/or fires involving electrical equipment or appliances, from small appliances to automotive systems to large industrial equipment, and have qualified as an expert in over 20 courts.  Expert 234 been a consultant to other engineering investigators and accident reconstructionists in complex cases.

Expert 234 is a tenured professor at a major educational institution, with over twenty years of teaching experience and professional interaction with experts in other fields of engineering and science.

Expert 234 is an author of numerous papers regarding electrical equipment for use aboard U.S. Naval vessels (both classified and unclassified documents).  Expert 234 is a author or co-author of six published papers relating to electrical/electronic engineering test design for electrical and electronic components exposed to unusual ambient conditions.

Expert 234 is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) - certification based on experience plus time-limited, proctored, written examination.