Fire Protection Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.285

California

Education

August 1984, Master of Public Administration (MPA) – Golden Gate University (Fire Protection Emphasis)

June 1978, Bachelor of Arts (BA) – University of Redlands, (Management)  (Fire Protection Emphasis)

June 1966, Associate of Arts (AA) – Mt. San Antonio College (Fire Science)

June 1963, Certificate in Fire Science – Mt. San Antonio College

Licenses/Credentials

Lifetime California Community College Teaching Credential in Fire Science

State of California Private Investigator and Qualified Manager/Owner

Forensic Fire Expert

Experience

1993- Present, Fire Protection Consultant.  The MCI. Davis, CA
A fire protection consulting firm with both private sector and government clients.  This company provides executive level services which include fire and life safety evaluations; fire and building code development for State and model codes; fire product and code analysis; fire cause investigation and evaluation; fire department management reviews; emergency management planning and training; as well as forensic fire expert services. 

1992-1993, Gage-Babcock & Associates, Inc., Senior Fire Protection Consultant.
2001-Present, Executive Director and Training & Education Coordinator, Uniform Fire Code Association
2001-Present, Code Coordinator, Western Fire Chiefs Association
2002-Present, Commissioner, West Plainfield Fire Protection District, Davis, CA
2001 – Present, Instructor, University of California at Davis
1972-Present, Instructor, California State Fire Training

1985-1992, California State Fire Marshal, Sacramento, CA.   
Senior Fire Official for the State of California with responsibilities for fire code enforcement, regulations promulgation, legislation, public education, state fire academy/training/certification and fire investigation.

1979-1985, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Director for the City of Campbell, CA. (Santa Clara County.) 
Responsible for fire suppression, code enforcement, fire investigation, emergency medical services and disaster preparedness/response for the City.

1977-1979, Fire Marshal/Emergency Services Coordinator – City of San Bernardino, CA.
Responsible for fire suppression, code enforcement, disaster preparedness, and fire investigation.

1962-1977, Fire Fighter to Chief
Increasingly responsible positions in fire suppression, code enforcement, fire investigation and emergency medical services.

Instructional Experience

University of California, Davis

University of Missouri

San Jose City College

Victor Valley College

San Bernardino Valley College

California Fire Service Training & Education Program

California State Office of Emergency Services

International City Managers Association

New York State Fire Academy

California State Fire Academy System

Fire/police academies and fire departments

Numerous professional fire safety associations (instructor/lecturer)

Emergency Services Insurance Program

National Propane Gas Association

Major Professional Affiliations

2005, State Assemblies For Emergency Response (SAFE)­­- Member

2004 – Present, National Safety Council – Member of Window Safety Task Force, Fire Task Group.

2003 – Present, International Code Council – Member

2002 – Present, Forensic Expert Witness Association – Member

2000 – Present, American College of Forensic Examiners, Inc. - Member

2000 – 2002, California Electrician Certification Advisory Committee – Member. Specialty Panel - Member

2000 – 2002, California State Department of Housing and Community Development Mobilehome Park Fire Protection Task Force – Member.  (Northern and Southern Task Forces)

2000 – Present, International Association of Arson Investigators – Member.

2000 – Present, Uniform Fire Code Association – Active Life Voting Member, Executive Director/Training & Education Coordinator/Staff to Board of Directors and its Committees (Code Interpretation, Code Development, Annual Conference, Strategic Planning, and Protocols).

1998 – 2002, California Building Standards Commission – Member, 2000 Code Partnership; Member, Technical Task Group; Commissioner (1981 – 1985).

1994 – 2001, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) - Member of
Sub-committee F15.38 – Window Fall Prevention.

1994 – 2000, International Fire Code Institute (IFCI) – Member

1991 – 1992, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Operation Urban Wildfire” Task Force – Member.

1990 – 1992, National Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship Training Program – Management sponsor.

1989 – 1992, CAL OSHA Advisory Committee on Personal Protective Clothing And Equipment for Firefighters -- Committee Member.

1989 – 1993, California Seismic Safety Commission – Commissioner; Chairman of the Emergency Planning and Response Committee and member of Earthquake Task Force.

1989 – Present, National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) – Founding President and Member Emeritus.

1989 – 1992, Panel for Fire Research of the National Research Council – Member of panel of National Institute of Standards and Training (NIST) Center for Fire Research.

1986 – 1992, California Chemical Emergency Planning and Response Commission – Member and served on the Hazardous Materials Training Funding Committee.

1985 – 1992, California Fire Fighters Joint Apprenticeship Committee – Management sponsor and member of the Board of Directors.

1985 – 1992, California Historical Building Safety Board – Advisory Member.

1985 – 2002, California Rural Fire Association – Member.

1985 – 1992, California State Board of Fire Services –Chairman.

1985 – 1997, Congressional Fire Services Institute – Senate and Charter Member.  Chair of the Western Steering Committee for the Annual Dinner.  Served as a member of the Institute’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.

1985 – 1992, Governor’s Special Arson Task Force – Chairman.

1985 – 2003, International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) – Member.  East Bay and Sacramento Valley Chapters – Member (1999 – 2003)

1985 – 1992, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. – Corporate and Fire Council Member.

1979 – Present, International Association of Fire Chiefs - Life Member.  Former Vice Chair of the Operation Life Safety Board of Trustees.

1979 – Present, Western Fire Chiefs Association - Life Member.  Code Coordinator.  Official Representative to California State Building Standards Commission.

1972 – Present, California Fire Chiefs Association – Life member and former member of Board of Directors.  Former liaison chief to the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers Section.  Member of both the Northern California and Southern California Fire Prevention Officers Sections.  Life member of the Southern California Fire Training Officers Section.

1972 – Present, National Fire Protection Association - Chair of Presidential Advisory Committee, Center for High Risk Outreach; Member, Educational Messages Advisory Committee, International Fire Marshals Association, Education, Building Fire Safety Systems, Wildland Fire Management and Fire Service Sections; Member, Advisory Council; Past Chair, Nominating Committee; Member/Former Chair, Home Security and Fire Safety Taskforce. 

1962 – Present, California State Firefighters’ Association – Life Member.

Publications

Available upon request