Thermal Fluid Systems and Explosive Engineering Expert for the Petrochemical, Nuclear, and Aerospace Industries

Expertise

• Risk analysis, the assessment of facilities to withstand explosions and fires, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), combustion analysis, and explosives engineering.
• Development and application of numerical modeling tools to characterize problems.
• Developed an analysis tool titled RisqCAD to determine release rates from process failures and the associated gas dispersion and fires.
• Developed a CFD based analysis tool to analyze the vulnerability of facilities to accidental explosions, it is now licensed and used by organizations including ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BHP Billiton, U.S. Coast Guard, Woodside Group, and Total.
• Performed assessments of proposed LNG terminals and processing facilities to determine consequences of an accident or malicious attack for clients in the gas sectors, the US Coast Guard, California Lands Commission, and Savannah River Nuclear facility.
• Performed accident investigations using computational modeling and other engineering analysis tools to determine the probable cause of industrial explosions.
• Led teams of process engineers and facility engineers in identifying likely sources of the accident. Clients have included the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Alstom Power, Citgo, and Dixie Chemical.
• Led teams in performing vulnerability assessments to address anti-terrorism requirements in both the government and commercial sectors. These projects involved the analysis of existing facilities and protective measures to determine the expected loss from probable terrorist events.
• Clients: U.S. Marine Corp, US Coast Guard, California Lands Commission, Three Mile Island Nuclear Facility, and Florida Power & Light (Turkey Point Nuclear Plant).

Focused Areas

• Thermal-Fluids Analysis
• CFO and Hydrocode Methods
• Combustion Analysis
• Risk Assessment
• Explosives Engineering

Experience

Undisclosed Company, Senior Petrochemical and Defense Advisor, Present

• Provides support to clients in the petrochemical and defense industries.

SciRisq (formally Analytical & Computational Energetics), 1988 - 2016

MMI Engineering, Inc, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2011

Risknology, Inc., 2008

University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, 2000 - 2008

Wilfred Baker Engineering, 1997 - 1998

U.S. Air Force, Wright Laboratory, Armament Directorate, Eglin AFB, FL, 1992 - 1995

U.S. Air Force, Aeronautical Systems Center, Eglin AFB, FL, 1990 - 1992

Services

Petrochemical and Energy Applications

Development

• Phenomenological analysis tool titled RisqCAD which uses industry standard modelling approaches to determine release rates from process failures and the associated gas dispersion and fires.
• CFO based analysis tool titled Computational Explosion and Blast Assessment Model (CEBAM) used to analyze the vulnerability of facilities to accidental explosions and has been licensed.

Performed

• Multiple assessments of industrial facilities using FLAGS, CEBAM, FDS and other modeling tools to determine their vulnerability to chemical releases and accidental gas explosions. Facilities analyzed include on and offshore production platforms, FPSOs and other upstream and downstream facilities.
• Accident investigations using computational modeling and other engineering analysis tools to determine the probable cause of industrial explosions.
• Site surveys to collect damage information and virtual recreation of the accidents. Led teams of process engineers and facility engineers in identifying likely sources of the accident.
• Assessments of LNG terminals and processing facilities to determine possible consequences if an accident or malicious attack were to happen. Studies involved:
• Computational modeling of chemical dispersion, fires and explosions.
• Predictions were to determine exposure of workers and the public to hazards. Led teams of analysts and risk assessment experts in performing quantitative risk assessment studies.
• Analysis of existing facilities and protective measures to determine the expected loss from probable terrorist events.

Petrochemical and Energy Projects

Performed

• Gas dispersion, explosion and fire analysis using phenomenological (RisqCAD) and CFO (CEBAM, FDS) based tools.
• Process review to determine frequency of events. Blast design accident loads (DALs) on a new living quarter were determined as well as the thermal loads on structural elements.
• Fire and Gas Detector Layout Study; Gas dispersion analysis using CFO to determine the frequency of potential clouds and their size. Information was used to define gas detector layout.
• Fire, vapor dispersion and explosion modelling using phenomenological (Phast) and CFO based tools (CEBAM, FDS).
• Executed a risk-based siting study considering toxic and hydrocarbon releases, fires and explosions.
• Analysis of vapor dispersion, fire and explosion risks to meet FERC filing requirements.
• Gas Plant Major Accident Review: Conducted facility wide assessment of risks due to fires and explosions. Integrity of buildings was determined.
• Field Expansion, Fire and Explosion Risk Assessment: Developed DALs and calculated individual and societal risk to evaluate design options.
• Design Accident Loads (DALs) and calculated individual and societal risk to meet project and vessel classification requirements.
• Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA): Fire and explosion modelling using phenomenological (Canary) and CFO based tools (CEBAM, FDS).
• Dust Explosion Risk Analysis: Review of the explosion hazard associated with processing of titanium powders was analyzed.
• Control Room Fire Risk Assessment: Analysis of fire scenarios impacting control room. Using CFO based analysis allowed for the incorporation of the inherent passive fire protection of the construction materials and the effect of the building layout.
• Explosion and Fragmentation Analysis: Determine potential compromise of occupied structures to terrorist attacks using mortars was analyzed. Both the blast and fragmentation hazards from the ordnance were analyzed.
• Explosion Risk Assessment: Analysis of potential gas releases both external and internal of compressor stations. Explosion risks to neighboring buildings were determined used CFO based analysis.
• Independent Risk Assessment (IRA): Assessment of proposed LNG import facility to quantify explosion and fire risks. Accidental and intentional events were considered to include vessel collision.
• Ventilation and Gas Dispersion Study: CFD analysis to determine natural ventilation on platform and air exchanges rates. Possible gas dispersion scenarios where analyzed to quantify frequency of potential explosion scenarios.
• Gas Platform, Explosion Risk Assessment: Evaluated advantage of using bridge-separated living quarters concept. Design options such as use of grating were evaluated using CFD (CEBAM) analysis tools.
• Acetylene Substation Siting Study: Explosion and fire scenarios were evaluated using phenomenological and CFD based analysis to determine hazard zones and loadings on occupied buildings. The risk to individuals was determined.

Defense and Explosive Systems Applications

Development

• Hydrocode titled CAMBER that utilizes automatic mesh generation and refinement and various equations of state to include JWL and BKW. Code has been used to analyze the performance of explosive storage systems and IEDs. Customers have included DTRA and Nabco.
• CFO / hydrocode analysis tool titled Computational Explosion and Blast Assessment Model (CEBAM) used to analyze the vulnerability of facilities to terrorist attacks.
• Hydrocode cap1;1ble of simulating heterogeneous explosives using kinetics based reaction models to better simulate issues such as detonations resulting from mechanically stressed explosives.
• Modeling and analysis tools to better simulate the vulnerability of people and equipment to threats such as roadside IEDs. Performed analysis such as the effect of protective head gear on blast loading and resulting brain injury.
• DoD created unique system that creates 30 images of IEDs from x - rays.
• Prototype roadside IED detection system using radar, thermal imager and video systems coupled together to provide user single data stream identifying probable threats.
• Modeling tools to facilitate the analysis of unique conventional weapon systems. These simulation tools allowed for virtual testing of new aero-propulsion systems, missile system design changes and devices to reduce the gun blast and flash on AC-130 Gunships.
• Modeling and testing systems for the U.S. Navy SBIR project simulating underwater explosions for use in ship and equipment testing.

Performed

• Process safety review of ammunition manufacturing facility.
• Blast modelling in support of DTRA Project Collateral Building Damage due to Nuclear Induced Airblast. Performing simulations to establish effect of detonation scenario and presence of cityscape on blast loadings on buildings.
• Study for Defense Threat Reduction Agency analyzing the possible use of commercial gas inventories, such as propane tankers, by terrorist as weapons. Initiating events were studied and simulated to determine likely explosion sources.
• DoD evaluation of the design for the next generation bomb suit; functionality of proposed subsystems and their enhancement of the performance of the wearer. Reviewed analysis of blast and fragmentation threats against a range of proposed protective systems.
• Analysis using modeling; intentional or accidental functioning of chemical and biological weapons. Scenarios addressed have included the functioning of abandoned weapons in China from World War II as well as terrorist attacks in large urban cities.
• Reverse engineer IED initiation systems used in Iraq. Reconstructed typical cell phone and DTMF based system for use in counter IED research and training.
• Integrated new technologies for the U.S. Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center, led the systems engineering efforts to GPS guidance and improved warheads into air-to-surface conventional weapons to include GBU-15 and AGM-130.

Military History, 1990 - Present

• Served over 20 years in the military with experience in security and explosives operations.
• IMA to Dept Director, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Tyndall AFB, FL 2015 - present
• Dept Commander, Civil Engineer Flight (S-Team), 822nd CEF, NAS JRB Ft Worth, TX
• Commander, Civil Engineer Flight & EOD Unit, 9161h CEF, Seymour-Johnson, NC Commander, Security Forces Squadron (SFS), 433rd SFS, Lackland AFB, TX
• Operations Officer, 5061h Expeditionary SFS, Kirkuk, Iraq
• Commander, 5061h EOD Flight, Kirkuk, Iraq
• Commander, 433rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight, Lackland AFB, TX
• Engineer, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, FL
• Program Manager, Air-to-Surface Weapons Program Officer, Eglin AFB, FL

Operational

• Extensive experience in dealing with explosive systems and security operations.
• Providing full-spectrum of engineering services to include installation support and contingency operations to include EOD, CBRNE and Fire Services for Tyndall Air Force Base.
• Prepared and deploying combat and construction engineering personnel,(Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth).
• Led EOD, fire fighting and chem-bio response teams and responsible for training and preparation for world-wide deployment and response.
• Responsible for the training of over 80 Security Forces members with a requirement to deploy world-wide to provide base security and law enforcement.
• Oversaw daily operations of over 350 security personnel as well as all security procedures and physical security improvements. Directed the response to over 30 indirect attacks from rockets and mortars (Iraq).
• EOD Flight leading the stand up of the flight and development of the training and manning programs. Oversaw the preparation and deployment of multiple EOD teams to various theaters of operation to include CONUS, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait and Iraq.
• Oversaw Squadron Training and execution of various missions to include support for Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and NOBLE EAGLE. Led teams responsible for Base Recovery After Attack, Runway Repair, fire protection, chem-bio defense, and emergency management.
• Led over 200 missions covering 39,000 square miles and the response and cleanup of a Munitions Storage Area accident involving over 150,000 lbs of explosives. Led 90 Air Force-Army operations, destroying over 200,000 lbs net explosive weight of enemy munitions (EOD Flight in Kirkuk Iraq).

Educator

(University Level)

• Mechanical Engineering Design Project Planning
• Fluid Mechanics
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFO)
• Analytical Techniques in Engineering Analysis
• Gas Dynamics
• Engineering Analysis II (Application of PDEs)
• Propulsion and Compressible Flow
• Security and Response Applications of Engineering