Expert Details
Power Plants & Marine Propulsion
ID: 736278
Washington, USA
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1973 | Degree: Graduate | Subject: U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Training for Officers | Institution: U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School Vallejo, CA and S1W Prototype Idaho Falls, ID |
| Year: 1972 | Degree: MS | Subject: Nuclear Physics | Institution: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA |
| Year: 1971 | Degree: BS | Subject: Physics (Emphasis on Thermodynamics) | Institution: Oregon State University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2015 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner & Principal Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Principal Engineer and Expert Witness: Project Manager and Principal Engineer for $80M Propulsion Systems Integration Contract on the Washington State Ferries 144-Auto Ferries Project that included design, construction, commissioning and crew training for four Olympic Class Commercial Ferries (144 cars/1500 passenger capacity). Also assisted in a similar capacity as Systems Integrator for the three 64-Car ferries constructed in the same timeframe. Also worked as Expert Witness on various cases involving power generation, marine propulsion and other industrial processes and systems including industrial controls. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1984 to 2015 | Employer: POWERPLANT Consultants, inc. dba Generation Equipment Services Company (GESCO) | Title: Owner, Principal Engineer & Licensed General Engineering Contractor (A-Haz) | Department: Engineering and General Engineering Contracting (A-Haz) |
Responsibilities:Principal Engineer and licensee as General Engineering Contractor (A-Haz) for a wide range of power generation, marine propulsion and similar projects including work associated with boilers, burners, thermodynamics, diesel engines, gas turbines and others including control systems related to those applications. Work as Expert Witness on over 100 cases involving above listed technologies as well as forensic analysis and accident reconstruction. As General Contractor established the firm as the preferred vendor for maintenance and upgrade modernization of onsite power generation systems for organizations including Bank of America, Security Pacific National Bank, Wells Fargo, PacBell Communications, and others for critical data center Standby Power Systems. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1980 to 1984 | Employer: WESTEC Services, Inc. | Title: Deputy Manager | Department: Energy |
Responsibilities:Deputy Manager of Energy Division responsible for direct supervision of 8 engineers and up to 100 plant operations & maintenance personnel commissioning and operation various leading technology geothermal and cogeneration plants in the western U.S. Responsible for marketing and preparation of proposals, overseeing various engineering activities including managing the East Mesa Geothermal Test Facility near Yuma, AZ for the US Dept. of Energy.Vice President and Manager for WESTEC subsidiary, Imperial Power Services Company, and startup providing specialized well servicing for geothermal industry in the Imperial Valley of California and other geothermal well sites in the western U.S. Left the firm when it was acquired in 1984 by a corporation interested in Westec's two other divisions and had indicated intent to divest or shut down the Energy Division. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1978 to 1980 | Employer: Bechtel Power Corporation | Title: Nuclear Licensing Engineer | Department: Nuclear |
Responsibilities:Nuclear Licensing Engineer responsible for design oversite and formal design review program with utility clients to demonstrate conformance to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Safety Regulations for Commercial Nuclear Power Plants. This work was done during the critical period in the industry after the 3-Mile Island nuclear incident. Was selected to lead the formal Client Review meetings with Utility Company executives and engineering managers and related preparatory activities in spite of being with the firm for less time than any other of the 11 member licensing staff. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1977 to 1978 | Employer: General Dynamics - Convair Division | Title: Systems Engineer | Department: Tomahawk Cruise Missile Development |
Responsibilities:Systems Engineer focused on systems integration and configuration management for development of a new mobile Ground Launched version of the then, new Tomahawk Cruise Missile. This was a short-term position associated with the Navy's partnership with defense industry companies to provide opportunities for Naval Officers who were separating from active duty. Though I was recruited to remain in a permanent position on the project, I had already been recruited to work at Bechtel Power in a capacity related to my extensive nuclear power training and experience with a substantially better salary and benefits package. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1971 to 1977 | Employer: United States Navy | Title: Nuclear Trained Lieutenant | Department: Nuclear Trained Officer - Submarines |
Responsibilities:Nuclear trained and qualified Submarine Officer. Served in positions as Student at Naval Postgraduate School (1971-1972) earning a Master's Degree in Nuclear Physics in 12-months, Trainee as U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Training Program for Officers to become certified to Operate, Maintain and Supervise Naval Nuclear Power Plants, then onboard nuclear submarine USS Thomas A. Edison-SSBN 610, Communications Officer, Auxiliary Division Officer/Damage Control Asst., Main Propulsion Asst. and provisional qualifications as Command Duty Officer. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1971 to 1977 | Agency: U.S. Navy | Role: Naval Officer - Nuclear Submarines | Description: Nuclear Trained Officer - Submarines |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 1996 to 2001 | Country / Region: Australia | Summary: Expert Witness- Engineering expert on case involving gas turbine power generation plants at Victoria State Hospitals. Engagement involved approx. 18 trips to Melbourne, Australia and 2-years in residence in Melbourne. Sole engineering expert against engineering staff personnel from General Motors, Allison Gas Turbines, Rolls-Royce Engineering and Detroit Diesel & Engine Company of Australia. Case finally settled on favorable terms for my client. |
| Years: 2011 to 2012 | Country / Region: Mexico | Summary: Expert Witness in International Arbitration Case: addressing effects of out of specification gaseous fuels on turbine maintenance requirements and overall plant operating efficiencies and economics. |
| Years: 2017 to 2019 | Country / Region: Saudi Arabia | Summary: Expert Witness for International Arbitration case, involving power plant control issues at three major petrochemical plants on the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia. |
| Years: 2003 to 2004 | Country / Region: Korea | Summary: Expert witness in International Arbitration Case for investigation of fuel diversion and effects on plant operating economics for US owned power plant located at the Hyundai Petrochemical Plant in Korea. |
| Years: 2016 to 2017 | Country / Region: Mexico | Summary: Expert Witness in International Arbitration Case |
| Years: 1994 to 1994 | Country / Region: France | Summary: Field engineering for modernization of an Allison Gas Turbine powered gas compression station. Work under contract to Solar Gas Turbines (San Diego) for French National Gas Company, Gaz de France at Mery sur Cher in Vierzon near Bourges in the Loure Valley |
| Years: 1993 to 1995 | Country / Region: Sweden | Summary: Having been selected by Volvo-ABB "TurboTech" Microturbine Company as the US technical support and emissions testing contractor, attended training in Malmo, Sweden and work their systems in the US until that product line was withdrawn from the US market due to economics of competition with US manufacturers operating with US government subsidies. |
| Years: 2006 to 2018 | Country / Region: Norway | Summary: As Propulsion Systems Integration Contractor for the Washington State Ferries 144-Auto Ferries Project. visited Norway for design and product manufacturing reviews and worked with Rolls-Royce Marine Engineers involving $12M worth of marine propulsion equipment. |
| Years: 1984 to 2009 | Country / Region: Germany | Summary: As Propulsion Systems Integration Contractor for the Washington State Ferries 144-Auto Ferries Project. visited Norway for design and product manufacturing reviews associated with $4M shafting and coupling equipment from Centa based in Dusseldorf. Vitied manufacturing site once, but worked with those engineers over entire period. |
| Years: 2017 to 2019 | Country / Region: United Arab Emirates | Summary: Spent time in Dubai working with lawyers on the Saudi Aramco case detailed elsewhere. |
| Years: 1973 to 2003 | Country / Region: Guam M.I. (US Territory) | Summary: Various port visits and maintenance activities while serving on the USS Thomas Edison SSBN-610 and then again as contractor working on island power generation station. |
| Years: 2010 to 2010 | Country / Region: Canada | Summary: Insurance investigation involving site visits at turbine repair facility in Winnipeg, Sask. for forensic analysis of turbine failure. |
| Years: 1995 to 1995 | Country / Region: Peru | Summary: Designed, delivered and commissioned a proprietary system using waste heat from gas turbine lube oil for conditioning of raw field gas in a gas field in very remote location in Peru. |
| Years: 1990 to 1991 | Country / Region: Chile | Summary: Designed, directed the manufacture and commissioned a 60Hz-50Hz standby power and local power frequency conversion system to support the use of 60Hz based US manufactured telemetry equipment in Chile with its 50Hz based local power supply. System successfully applied at the Carnegie Observatory in remote desert location in Chile. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| ASME - For a really long time!; Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (2006-Present); National Society of Professional Engineers (2000 to Present) |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Licensed Professional Engineer - California, Nevada & Arizona first licensed in CA on 1983. Licensed General Engineering Contractor (A-Haz) first licensed 1981 currently voluntarily inactivated. Licensed private pilot (inactive), various certificates in mini-courses including Forensic Engineering (4 courses), Engineering Ethics, Turbine Fuel Delivery Systems, Asbestos Fundamentals, GE Fanuc Programmable Controls, Volvo/ABB MicroTurbine Technology. |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers Board for development of professional engineering certification examinations 2008 - 2017 (and recently asked to continue in the future). Washington Society of Professional Engineers Board of Trustees and Treasurer (2019 to Present). President of Geothermal Research Counsel San Diego Chapter (1979-1981). Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Code Committee for development of new rule UL-2200 (1997-1999) and Member of UL Standards Committee for development of Stationary Engine Packaging Standards. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| Sigma Pi Sigma - National Physics Honor Society |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Patent for "High-performance coolant system with manifold for large diesel engines" U.S. Patent a patented product to resolve overheating issues with large diesel engines. Product sold to U.S. Navy and to a private mining company in Australia. The patent filed but abandoned due to lack of market; "Parametric Fuel Metering for Liquid Fueled Industrial Gas Turbines and Diesel Engines"; system involved was accepted and approved for use by the Southern California Air Quality Management District for a fleet of gas turbines in California. Not patented but proprietary design and delivery of a system for using waste heat from gas turbine lube oil for conditioning of raw field derived natural gas for use in gas fields in Peru. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Over 100 cases in US and in international arbitrations working for both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving power plant and marine propulsion technology and related technologies. Includes about 35 cases involving use of asbestos as an insulation product in both mesothelioma related and other cases including one EPA Superfund litigation. Special expertise in industrial forensics and in matters related to proper operation of systems, embedded code in microprocessor control systems, and in the application and conformance to OSHA regulations involving safe Lockout/Tag Out (LOTO) and related industrial accidents. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Please see CV for detail of numerous short courses. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Has extensive experience in product reviews, procurement, reverse engineering, and in the adaptation of standard products to unique situations. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Has some, but is not currently pursuing work in this field. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert is a very hands-on engineer that uses an understanding of underlying physics to better understand issues and solve problems. Additionally, he is honest and adheres to the NSPE Code of Ethics in all regards; if he can't help you, he will tell you! Lastly, he has two hobbies of possible interest. Firstly, he has been an innovative cook for over 50-years, a hobby that requires patience, persistence and attention to detail. His other hobby is car restoration that includes several vehicle restoration projects including the 1959 Morris Minor 1000 that he restored from a distressed hulk to cute and reliable vehicle that he uses as his daily driver. Again, patience, persistence and attention to detail. |