Leveraging more than 45 years of national and international experience in the practical application of geological sciences, this geological sciences expert witness specializes in geologic site characterization, engineering geology, slope stability analysis, geologic hazard evaluation, environmental and permitting issues, construction claims, and professional liability matters. The expert’s background includes investigation and analysis of landslides, rockfall hazards, snow avalanche hazards, groundwater impacts, erosion issues, quarry conditions, and geotechnical site conditions associated with mines, highways, pipelines, power transmission lines, hydropower projects, and major infrastructure developments. Additional expertise includes remote sensing, geophysics, aerial imagery interpretation, LiDAR analysis, petrography, geologic mapping, hazard mitigation evaluation, subsurface investigation techniques, and the use of satellite and remote field monitoring technologies for engineering and environmental geology assessments. His work has involved both detailed site investigations and broad regional hazard evaluations throughout North America, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Extensive expert witness and forensic consulting experience includes more than 35 years providing consultations, deposition testimony, and courtroom testimony involving construction disputes, environmental damage claims, engineering liability matters, geologic hazard evaluations, and site condition analyses. Litigation-related work has included evaluation of contractor claims involving changed site conditions, assessment of engineering liability associated with landslides and retaining wall failures, environmental impact and runoff analyses, slope stability disputes, groundwater recharge evaluations, and geologic assessments connected to infrastructure failures and development-related damages. The expert has also assisted with legal claims involving highway construction, quarry operations, pipeline stability, utility infrastructure, and forest practices affecting slope stability and erosion conditions. Additional technical investigations have included landslide evaluations affecting natural gas pipelines, avalanche hazard mitigation assessments, rock slope stability analyses, quarry production disputes, and geotechnical evaluations associated with highways, railroads, dams, tunnels, and hydropower systems.

Throughout his leadership career in engineering geology and geoscience consulting, this engineering geology specialist served as Principal and Manager of Natural Resources and Geosciences groups for engineering and environmental consulting organizations, as well as co-founding and serving as Chief Scientific Officer for a technology company involved in advanced membrane systems development. Operational responsibilities included management of multidisciplinary geologic and geophysical investigations, oversight of large-scale hazard assessments, coordination of marine geophysical and geotechnical studies, project management for infrastructure routing and site development evaluations, and supervision of engineering geology investigations throughout the United States and internationally. Professional credentials include designation as a Licensed Geologist (LG) and Licensed Engineering Geologist (LEG). Educational background includes a Ph.D. in Geology focused on Quaternary Research, a Master of Science degree in Geology, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, along with additional training in geological engineering, mediation techniques, environmental isotopes, remote sensing, rock mechanics, and project management. Additional technical and professional contributions include peer-reviewed publications involving engineering geology, paleoclimate analysis, isotope geochemistry, slope stability, and infrastructure geology, as well as teaching and training activities involving petrography, engineering geology, field geology, hazard recognition, and rock core logging techniques.