A fire and explosion investigation expert witness with more than 40 years of experience, this professional specializes in determining the origin and cause of fires and explosions involving vessels, vehicles, and structures. More than 30 years of expert witness experience includes consultations, deposition testimony, and courtroom testimony, with qualification to provide expert testimony in both state and federal courts. Investigative work encompasses case-circumstance analysis, legal documentation, research, testing, report preparation, and on-site photography. Specialized marine expertise includes surface and subsurface investigation of burned and sunken vessels using side-scan sonar, remotely operated vehicles, underwater examination, and video documentation.

Leadership responsibilities have included service as President and Senior Fire and Explosion Analyst of a fire and reconstruction consulting practice, following prior service as Vice President of an investigative organization with responsibility for fire and explosion origin-and-cause determinations, supervision of engineering personnel, and administrative oversight. Earlier public-sector experience included service as a Deputy State Fire Marshal investigating fires, explosions, suspected arson, and unlawful uses of explosives and preparing investigative information for prosecutorial use. Additional investigative work has encompassed insurance fraud, organized theft, surveillance, criminal investigations, private-sector investigations, and technical litigation support.

Professional credentials include Florida Certified Investigator, National Board Certified Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigator, National Board Certified Fire Investigation Instructor, and Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator. Marine-related qualifications include documented U.S. Coast Guard licensure as a 100 Ton Master, advanced open-water diving certification, enriched-air diving certification, and certification as a Master of Safety Drills for fishing vessels. Professional service has included national director and certification-board responsibilities with the National Association of Fire Investigators and vice-chair service on a municipal code enforcement board. Affiliations include the National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Marine Investigators, ASTM International, International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and Marine Technology Society.

Educational preparation includes formal law-enforcement study at the community-college level and extensive specialized training in fire investigation, arson, explosives, marine accident investigation, underwater exploration, fire modeling, forensic science, and fire-analysis litigation. The supplied materials do not document completion of a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, so no academic degree is attributed. Additional professional authority includes directing and presenting fire-investigation instruction, conducting workshops for fire departments, law-enforcement agencies, state attorneys’ offices, insurers, and professional organizations, and participating in more than 37 international seminars and in-house training programs. This combination of origin-and-cause analysis, marine investigation, forensic documentation, specialized training, and expert testimony supports evaluation of disputed fire and explosion events in both land-based and maritime settings.