PhD chemist and expert in explosives, including airbag propellants, with thirty-five years of industrial research and development experience as both a staff scientist and manager/director of R&D activities. The primary focus of industrial assignments has been the design of energetic solid materials such as propellants, pyrotechnics, explosives, and gas generants for missile systems as well as automotive airbag applications. Airbag work includes formulating a phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN)-based gas generant and compatible inflators.
Formal Education
- Ph.D. in Chemistry, Duke University
- B.S. in Chemistry, Illinois State University
Career Highlights
- Directed teams focused on a federal defense agency's needs for unique energetic materials (propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics) and the devices wherein they function
- Technical contributor on research grant proposals to the U.S. military, as well as for internally funded R&D (IRAD) research
- Managed thirty-five R&D professionals plus support staff conducting several government projects and providing analytical support for the production and testing of chemical, mechanical, and ballistic hazards
- While manager of the inflation product engineering group at a major automotive supplier, was twice awarded internal company innovation awards
- Named inventor on twenty-five issued U.S. patents including several relating to airbags
Expert Qualifications
- Submitted an expert report regarding root cause of Takata airbag inflator fragmentation in support of NHTSA recall activities
- Also in relation to Takata airbag defects, assisted the Australian government with their inflator recall and the U.S. Department of Justice with its fraud investigation
- Retained as a testifying expert witness and submitted an expert report in an airbag-related contract law case in Canada that later settled
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Frequently Asked Questions
What types of cases can this expert support?
Airbag failures and defects, explosives/propellant disputes, and automotive system liability cases. They've submitted expert reports on airbag inflator fragmentation for NHTSA, testified in Canada on airbag contracts, and worked with the DOJ on fraud investigations.
What is this expert's technical background?
PhD in Chemistry from Duke, BS from Illinois State. Thirty-five years in R&D as a staff scientist and director, managing teams on DoD projects for energetic materials. They hold 25 US patents, including several on airbag technology.
What technologies does this expert specialize in?
Airbag inflation systems and propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics design, and failure analysis. They've worked specifically on phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) gas generants and compatible inflators for automotive applications.
- Airbag inflation and propellants
- Explosives and pyrotechnics
- Failure analysis
- U.S. National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration
- Canadian Court