Expert Details
Hazmat Incident Investigation, Evidence Documentation, Collection and Handling, Fire Causation
ID: 725319
Pennsylvania, USA
Expert possess emergency response experience as well as a science oriented education to provide a unique understanding of real world emergencies that can not be learned solely in a text or class room. He has actual emergency scene experience in command and control; hazard risk, vulnerability assessment and identification; incident investigation and cause identification and more. Expert's knowledge in these areas is exemplified by the use of his expertise for the purpose of national and international instruction and course development for multiple Federal Agencies and Departments (Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Fire Academy, Department of Justice, Department of State and others). Included is his course development and instruction of an FBI course in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), improvised weapons and agents and evidence identification, documentation, collection and handling in contaminated crime scenes and environments.
Array
He acted as the coordinator between the Haverhill, MA Fire Department and a specialty metals supply company to acquire a certificate of occupancy by enabling the company to meet the Fire Department safety concerns.He was a member of an expert cadre representing the defendant in a $50 million lawsuit involving a combustible metal explosion. The metal involved was sodium. There were 12 serious injuries including 2 severe burns to two of the victims. Settled for $19 million and considered a win.He was the fire cause and origin expert in a fire caused by swimming pool chlorinator that cause the total loss of a supply warehouse and retail sales company. Identified a slow oxidation ignition process other than the original cause.He was the expert for the defendant in an improper tactics and excess loss suit against several fire departments. The fire involved combustible metals including titanium, magnesium and aluminum. The case was settled for a nominal fee.Assessment of a County hazardous materials response system to identify any needed changes necessary. The findings led to the implementation of a new response team organization and overall control.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
---|---|---|---|
Year: 1976 | Degree: BS | Subject: Secondary Education Biology & General Science | Institution: Kutztown University |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
---|---|---|---|
Years: 1983 to 2008 | Employer: Self | Title: President/Owner | Department: |
Responsibilities:He is the sole proprietor of Hazard Management Associates responsible for all aspects of business operations. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2004 to 2008 | Employer: Potomac River Group | Title: Senior Homeland Security Analyst | Department: |
Responsibilities:International instruction for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the US Department of State, Diplomatic Security of the Department of Death, Exercise developer and controller for Department of Homeland Security |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1995 to 2000 | Employer: Community Research Associates | Title: Subject Matter Expert - Part-time | Department: |
Responsibilities:Developer of an 80 hour course focusing on law enforcement operations in a chemical, radiological, biological and explosive environment. Substantial focus on evidence documentation, collection and handling procedures. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1981 to 2008 | Employer: National Fire Academy | Title: Contract Instructor, Subject Matter Expert, Course developer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Instructor in the areas of hazardous materials chemistry, strategic and tactical operations and planning; Command and Control ICS/NIMS; Terrorism Emergency Response and Planning. |
Government Experience
Years | Agency | Role | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Years: 1981 to 2008 | Agency: FEMA - National Fire Academy | Role: Instructor, subject matter expert, course developer | Description: He has been an instructor for over 27 years in the areas of hazardous materials chemistry, strategic and tactical response and planning; Incident Command/NIMS; Terrorism Response, Planning and Incident Management. Additionally, he has been the prime developer for six courses and a member of the development team of multiple other courses. |
Years: 1985 to 2002 | Agency: FEMA - Emergency Management Institute | Role: Instructor, subject matter expert and course developer | Description: He instructed Multi-hazard Planning, Hazardous Materials Contingency Planning, Terrorism Planning, Integrated Emergency Management Course (Hazmat). He has also been involved in the development process for three EMI courses. |
Years: 1998 to 2000 | Agency: Federal Bureau of Investigation | Role: Subject matter expert, course manager and course developer | Description: Primary contractor for the development of the FBI Hazardous Materials Response Unit 80 hour course on law enforcement operations in a chemical, biological, radiological and explosives incident. |
Years: 2001 to 2008 | Agency: United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security | Role: Instructor | Description: He instructs a one week introduction to terrorism response and a three week operational course in foreign countries including Turkey, Kuwait, Tajikistan and Argentina. |
International Experience
Years | Country / Region | Summary |
---|---|---|
Years: 2001 to 2001 | Country / Region: Ankara, 'Turkey | Summary: He was one of five instructors for this one week introductory course involving terrorism response and planning. (This is only a partial list of international experience.) |
Years: 2004 to 2004 | Country / Region: Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Summary: He made multiple trips to Tashkent between 2003 and 2004. During the final trip he was a controller for a multi-day, multi-agency full scale field exercise involving border counter proliferation activities, to law enforcement and military interdiction as well as handling of contaminated evidence. |
Years: 2007 to 2007 | Country / Region: Dushanbe, Tajikistan | Summary: One of three instructors for this the week operational course. It instructs the participants in the use and maintanence of specialized personal protective equipment. It further involves scenero based application of operational security and response options. On completion of the program all equipment and its storage trailer become the property of the host country. |
Years: 2008 to 2008 | Country / Region: Buenos Aires, Peru | Summary: He was team lead of three instructors for this three week operational course. The program instructs the participants in the use and maintanence of specialized personal protective and other specialized equipment. It further involves scenero based application of operational security and response options. On completion of the program all equipment and its storage trailer become the property of the host country. |
Years: 2008 to 2008 | Country / Region: Dhaka, Bangladesh | Summary: He was one of three instructors for this one week introductory course involving terrorism response and planning. |
Career Accomplishments
Associations / Societies |
---|
International Association of Fire Chiefs, Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Arson Investigators, National Fire Protection Association, Pennsylvania Association of Hazardous Materials Association, Association of National Fire Academy Instructors |
Licenses / Certifications |
---|
Secondary Education certified in Biology and General Science |
Professional Appointments |
---|
Local Representative to the National Domestic Preparedness Organization of the Department of Justice; Secretary, 2nd Vice President, Vice President and President of the Pennsylvania Association of Hazardous Materials Technicians |
Awards / Recognition |
---|
Level A Award for life time contribution to hazardous materials response by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. |
Publications and Patents Summary |
---|
Multiple course manuals as author or contributing author; author of Hazardous Materials Strategies and Tactics published by Prentice Hall; multiple articles in Fire Engineering magazine. |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
---|
Qualified expert witness in Lehigh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the areas of hazardous materials; improvised explosive chemicals; evidence identification, documentation, collection and handling; fire cause and origin. |
Training / Seminars |
---|
Innumerable conferences, courses, seminars as well as course development for United States Fire Administration, FEMA, Emergency Management Institute, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, Department of State and Environmental Protection Agency and numerous state and local agencies. |
Marketing Experience |
---|
Regulartory interpretation and implementation options and strategies involving hazardous substance/materials planning, prevention and response. |
Other Relevant Experience |
---|
Evaluation, Assessment and Development of emergency response systems for the public and private sector; instructional design; threat assessment; national and international instruction. |
Fields of Expertise
acetylene, agricultural chemical, agricultural chemistry, aliphatic solvent, agricultural pesticide, biocide, applied organic chemistry, chemical compound, chemical intermediate, chemical industry, chemical product environmental effect, environmental chemistry, gas product, gas production, heavy metal toxicity, heterocyclic compound, hydrocarbon solvent, hydrogen, industrial chemical, industrial chemical toxicology, industrial chemistry, industrial gas, industrial solvent, organic solvent, water treatment chemical, evidence documentation, fire cause, threat, homeland, domestic preparedness, homeland security, vulnerability assessment, threat assessment, emergency management, chemical recovery