Boating Expert Witnesses

This expert is well versed in all areas of maritime safety and regulation. He spent 30 years in the United States Coast Guard serving as a Boatswains Mate and Chief Warrant Officer, among other positions in operations and safety. He has conducted a myriad of law enforcement boardings to ensure vessels were in compliance with federal law and safety requirements. He is Coast Guard trained in Jones Act, OSHA Regulations, ABYC standards, and SMS (Safety Management Systems) requirements. This expert is currently a marine safety consultant at his own private consulting practice, where he advises on liability and negligence of marine equipment and behavior aboard ships.

This highly qualified aquatic safety expert is an honors graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and holds a PhD from Saint Louis University. He served as a Coast Guard officer for 21 years, retiring as a Commander in 1981. His service experience encompassed numerous shore and ship commands, plus Search and Rescue, Aids to Navigation and Boating Safety duties. His last assignment was as Chief, Boating Safety Division, Second C.G. District, St. Louis, MO. His work in improving aquatic and boating safety has been repeatedly recognized in a number of national and international awards, recognitions and citations. Upon retirement he initiated an aquatic safety consulting firm to present water and boating safety seminars on a national basis to fire, police and EMS personnel.

The qualified expert is cross-trained in vessel and vehicle accident reconstruction and in homicide/criminal investigation. He has conducted more than 1,500 investigations of serious and fatal vessel and vehicle accidents, and of crimes against persons and property. He was a board member of New Jersey State Police review boards that evaluated police vehicle accidents and pursuits for compliance with state guidelines and NJSP standard operating procedures. The expert is also a former NJSP Academy Instructior and NJSP human resouces administrator. Currently, the expert is a principal investigator for a private consulting firm specializing in boating and PWC accident investigation and reconstruction, and the investigation and reconstruction of police vehicular pursuits and emergency vehicle accidents. The expert also offers consultation regarding seamanship and captaincy matters and police procedures relating to police patrol matters and police activities at roadway construction sites. The expert also has experience in matters involving commuter bus passengers, school crossing guards and roadway construction zone activities. The expert has been recognized in an NJ area verdict publication regarding investigative work done in a police vehicular pursuit and police procedures matter.

This highly-qualified expert has over 25 years of experience in the field of marine engineering, naval architecture, and shipbuilding. He has lead teams performing analysis of stability, structure, performance, safety, and accessibility. Additionally, he works directly with shipyards throughout North America during the construction process to assess quality and schedule performance and ensure compliance with contract specifications. He earned his BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and is a licensed professional engineer in naval architecture and marine engineering in two states. This expert is also a certified project management professional. He is active in his field as a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and the American Waterways Organization. This expert currently serves as the principal in charge and technical director for a marine engineering and design firm in Washington State that he has worked with for the past 26 years.

This boating expert has nearly 30 years of experience in his field. He earned an AA in business administration from Rio Hondo Community College and is licensed as a captain through the US Coast Guard. In addition, he is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of California and has contributed thousands of articles on fishing and boating to various media outlets. Formerly, this expert was an operations manager at Designed Programs Corporation and a technical operations and customer support manager at AT&T. He was the president, CEO, CFO, and COB of Sea Cubed, Inc. Currently, he is the owner of both a gun and a fishing retail store, as well as a freelance writer, speaker, and teacher on outdoor topics. Most notably, this expert is the executive director and a captain at a maritime NPO in California, serving special-needs people. Additionally, he has owned a long-term boat charter business for the past 19 years.

This highly-qualified expert has extensive experience in admiralty and maritime law. After earning his BS in marine transportation from Texas A&M University, and this expert went on to complete testing for a US Coast Guard Third Mate Unlimited Any Gross Ton License. He spent seven years sailing on various types and sizes of US Jones Act and international trading tank vessels in charge of navigation watch, cargo operations, deck maintenance and repair, and ISO/ISM safety management compliance, in all officer ranks. After becoming eligible for a US Coast Guard Master Unlimited Any Gross Tons License, this expert served in command of a 48,000 ton US flagged chemical tanker. He later was selected to serve with the Aransas-Corpus Christi Pilots as a state commissioned and federally licensed harbor pilot, in the state of Texas for thirteen years. Over the course of his career, this expert has played major roles in the acceptance and implementation of various professional guidelines, including the first Navigation and Safety Guidelines for the Port of Corpus Christi. Currently, this experts serves as a private maritime consultant based out of Texas.