Expert Details
Natural Gas Distribution, Explosion Investigation & Cause, Federal & State Regulations
ID: 723788
Massachusetts, USA
Prior to establishing this practice, Expert served for a decade as Chairman and President of a regional gas workers' association, where Expert drafted and advanced legislation, provided legislative and regulatory testimony, represented member and municipal interests before regulatory bodies, and conducted independent field investigations of gas leaks and incidents. Expert authored Massachusetts legislation addressing natural gas leaks in 2014. Expert also spent nearly two decades in frontline gas utility roles with a major regional gas company, progressing from meter reading through field service technician and district regulator leadership positions, and served concurrently for over a decade in labor representative and leadership roles with utility worker organizations focused on regulatory enforcement and legislative matters.
Expert's technical foundation includes extensive utility-based training in gas leak investigation, pipeline integrity, and regulatory compliance, along with an earlier background in military aviation quality assurance, having served as a Quality Assurance Inspector and aircraft "Plane Captain" in the U.S. Marine Corps and in a related civilian aviation capacity with the U.S. Navy. Expert maintains extensive working knowledge of federal pipeline safety regulations and the industry codes and standards incorporated by reference into those regulations.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2011 | Degree: NA | Subject: Career of Internal Natural Gas Company Training & Regulatory Compliance (OQ etc) | Institution: DOT, PHMSA, NEGA |
| Year: 1984 | Degree: Quality Assurance | Subject: A4 Attack Aircraft | Institution: USMC |
| Year: 1983 | Degree: Plane Captain | Subject: A4 Attack Aircraft | Institution: USMC |
| Year: 1982 | Degree: Aviation | Subject: General Avaiation | Institution: Millington Tennesse U.S. Aviation Training |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2011 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President & Owner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Provides natural gas expert-consulting services, investigating natural gas and propane explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning cases for clients. Responsibilities include site inspections, evidence identification and testing, witness interviews, historical and case research, federal and state regulatory review, tariff review, discovery development, deposition preparation of opposing witnesses, and expert witness testimony based on evidence and experience as a natural gas, propane, and carbon monoxide/gas appliance expert. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2015 | Employer: New England Gas Workers Association (NEGWA) | Title: Chairman & President | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Drafted and proposed legislation and directed the association's legislative agenda, provided legal and legislative testimony, and served as media director and liaison for story development and post-incident commentary.• Maintained professional relationships with municipalities and pipeline safety regulatory agencies, served as an independent technical information source, and provided expert witness testimony for legal cases and legislative matters. Expert provided public testimony in docket proceedings, participated in discovery, and conducted field investigations including independent third-party leak surveys, leak rechecks, and incident/explosion investigations. • Responsibilities included monitoring regulatory compliance across multiple states and federal statutes, researching regulatory history, pursuing complaints and violations with transportation and regulatory agencies, and representing clients as an intervener in merger, rate, and regulatory policy proceedings. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1991 to 2011 | Employer: National Grid Gas (formerly Keyspan/Boston Gas) | Title: Various | Department: |
Responsibilities:• District Regulator Leader, 2010–2011• Perform Field Services (PFR) Technician, 1992–2010 • Meter Reader, 1991–1992 Served as a first responder for emergency gas leak response, conducting leak investigation, grading, and survey work, meter work, gas service installation, underground gas leak repairs, service regulator repair and replacement, gas fitting installation and repair, district regulator inspection/repair/replacement, and field training of new employees. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1987 to 1989 | Employer: U.S. Navy, Naval Test Center | Title: Civilian Aviation (Classified Duties) | Department: |
Responsibilities:Performed aviation-related technical duties on test fighter and attack aircraft. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1981 to 1986 | Employer: U.S. Marine Corps | Title: Quality Assurance (QA) Inspector | Department: Flight Operations/Power Plants |
Responsibilities:Served as an aircraft "Plane Captain," and was certified in high-power engine testing. Received an honorable discharge. |
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Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Expert has personally investigated over 150 gas explosions and fires across the United States and Canada, with his consulting firm having investigated over 275 such incidents in total. He has testified in court in several different jurisdictions and has provided deposition or other legal testimony approximately 40 times over the past decade-plus. Expert's litigation-related work includes site inspections, evidence identification and testing, witness interviews, case research and review, federal and state regulatory review, discovery development, and deposition preparation of opposing witnesses, with expert opinions based on evidence and experience in natural gas, propane, and carbon monoxide/gas appliance investigations. In an earlier capacity, Expert also provided legislative and regulatory testimony multiple times before Massachusetts state legislative bodies and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, both on Expert's own filed matters and on matters filed by other parties. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| • New England Gas Workers Association (NEGWA) • UWUA Local 446G / BUW-UWUA Local 318 • Northeast Gas Association (NEGA) |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| • Certified Hazardous Material Handler, 2006–2014 • Trac-Pipe Licensed, 2000–2010 • Lead Gas Fitter Certification, 2005–2010 • Backhoe Operator, Trained & Licensed, 2001 • AMR (Automated Meter Reading) Certified (Itron), 1992–2010 • Plane Captain Certification; Plane Captain QA Inspector Certification; Power-Plants QA Inspector Certification (U.S. military) • Civilian Aviation Inspector Certification — Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD, 1985 • Successful completion of federal Operator Qualification (OQ) examinations on a recurring biennial basis throughout gas utility career, per 49 CFR Part 192 |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Authored Massachusetts natural gas legislation, "An Act Relative to Natural Gas Leaks" (2014). |
Fields of Expertise
Department of Transportation pipeline safety regulation, gas fire, gas pipeline, natural gas, natural gas industry, natural gas pipeline, building fire, energy industry behavior, excavation safety, explosion, explosion cause, explosion investigation, explosion origin, explosion prevention, explosion safety and hazards analysis, explosion standard, explosion technology, explosion test facility, explosive residue, Federal Safety Standard, flame, gas handling safety, gas pipeline leak detection, hydrocarbon, ignition source, industry standard, liquefied natural gas, lower explosive limit, pipeline, polyethylene pipe, qualification testing, National Transportation Safety Board, propane explosion, fire damage, natural gas industry structure, natural gas market, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, facility siting (hazardous chemicals), natural gas storage, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, federal specification, pipeline coating material, qualification test standard, gas-fired water boiler design, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation transportation code, gas-fired boiler, process safety management, American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard, safety engineering, fossil fuel