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Expert, by virtue of his 38 years of specialized employment at the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center, along with an additional 5 years as Senior Technical Expert for the Project manager's Office has achieved a base of technical knowledge and skills that few others can claim. He is certifiably an expert at investigating and resolving ammunition malfunctions, with attendant incident reconstruction skills, and with extensive expert knowledge of the ammunition itself as well as associated technical areas of design, production, inspection, quality control, training/combat doctrine, field logistics and human factors. He has been using this knowledge and skill since 2003 to successfully provide service as a Military Ordnance Consultant and Expert Witness to a variety of clients, and is available across the broad base of expertise he possesses.

Excellent writing, speaking, and cognitive skills with extensive knowledge (technical and corporate) on a wide array of ammunition and ammunition issues. Expert on the techniques of malfunction / incident investigation, and all the processes that are required to bring such programs to successful completion, including incorporation and coordination of other skilled scientific and technical personnel in a unified effort. Conducted as prime engineer or team leader hundreds of investigation programs, including many high level and critical malfunction incidents during the Viet Nam war that had serious consequences to our troops.

Broad and thorough technical knowledge of ammunition itself and the weapons the ammunition is used in, as well as a breadth of related aspects such as design considerations, munitions manufacturing processes and quality control procedures and problems, military soldier training and combat doctrine, and field logistic readiness ideology. Interactive with higher Command levels as Senior Technical Expert within Project Manager's Office for Logistical Support and Malfunction Investigations activities by the ARDEC engineering groups, providing management with professional input as needed and requested for Small caliber, Medium caliber, and Tank fired ammunition. Has maintained himself as a private CONSULTANT and EXPERT WITNESS since 2003, available to military Commands, as well as to lawyers representing both private citizens and ammunition manufacturing companies in ammo-related cases (criminal and civil, on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants).

Specialized and general knowledge of many different Ordnance items, Ordnance Systems, and Rockets/Missiles has been gained over the years working for the Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command as well as the Project Manager's Office, PM-MAS. In order to successfully function as an engineer working on various areas of Military Ordnance from pre-production, to production, fielding, logistics, and especially in the specialty of Malfunction Investigation, it is mandatory to be thoroughly knowledgeable of the items of Ordnance worked on and how they are used and mis-used. Expert has that knowledge in Hand Grenades of all types; Small Arms ammunition for rifle, handgun, and automatic weapons; 20 and 40MM Cannon Caliber ammo; 81MM and 60MM Mortars; Rockets- both anti-tank and 2.75 inch air to ground; Signals, Flares, and Simulators; Artillery; and Non-Lethal ammunition.

CONSULTING service provided to military legal counsel at U.S. Marine Corps, Miramar MCB, California regarding prosecution of criminal charge of attempted murder with hand grenade by a Marine. Legal Counsel there needed an Expert opinion as to whether or not pieces of metal recovered at the crime scene were from an American M67 Hand Grenade or a foreign hand grenade (incident occurred in an overseas conflict area). This was conclusively determined on-site by the expert in a short period of time, and the analysis/conclusion used to address the Military Court inquiry and proceedings. EXPERT WITNESS with DEPOSITION service provided for a German manufacturer, represented by an American law firm, being sued in a civil action by a member of the Navy Seals for injury due to the company's commercial product's use, and injury sustained by same. In order to assess potential cause of incident, the design and manufacture elements of their product, a Flash-Bang Diversionary Device, had to be compared technically to the comparative U.S. item, a current-use Stun Grenade, and an analysis made for propensity of Human Error to occur. This was done and a firm Expert Opinion was promoted for use in the successful defense of the manufacturing company. EXPERT WITNESS with DEPOSITION / FEDERAL TRIAL SUPPORT services for defendant provided in an extended and technically complicated civil case by multiple litigants (2 deceased) suing the U.S. manufacturer of an 81MM Mortar involved in a premature detonation within the mortar tube itself. The successful defense of the case centered on multiple analyses prepared by Mr. DiRicco involving manufacturing processes/quality control, soldier training, human factors, compilation and summation of historical similar events investigated and the technical testing/conclusions made of those, and the analysis of the subject case methodology used, findings of the on-site malfunction investigation conducted, and the testing, evidence and conclusions made by Dept. of Army engineers and scientists. Also, throughout the trial, Expert provided constant opinion of technical aspects of evidence presented by plaintiff counsel's witnesses as to credibility and scientific fact. CONSULTING service for plaintiff attorney in civil case filed for wrongful death of a child against the Los Angeles police department in sensational hostage situation with major news coverage involving alleged misapplication of commercial Flash-Bang Grenades in closed quarters by the police. Plaintiff lawyer alleged that use of Flash-Bangs in small enclosed room obfuscated the hostage and kidnapper and facilitated accidental shooting of young female hostage in the rescue attempt. Consultant services of Expert were contracted to design and conduct a recreation of the hostage event in detail, and to record via photography and video, the effects of smoke as pertains to use of the Flash Bangs in the room, and the possible contribution to the accidental death of the child . EXPERT OPINION Document provided to a Hong Kong law firm for use in their legal system's civil trial representing a National Chinese mariner severely injured in an incident at sea involving the Hong Kong Marine Police in Hong Kong waters. Police had attempted to intercept the Chinese mariner in rough seas in the dark of night, and fired several commercial Signal Flares in his direction, one of which hit him in the head at close range, severely injuring him. An analysis was made and provided to their Legal Court as to the propriety of the use of the flares and the considerations and judgment that should have prevailed in their use under the conditions of the sea at that time, the adequacy of the training provided to the police and the guiding documents that are on board police vessels, as well as alternate choices that could have been made to effect their objective safely without incident.