Submit Project

Expert Details

EXPERT ID: 1403
Submit project Add Experts

Natural Gas Safety & Pipeline Integrity Expert | Explosion Investigation, Gas Operations & Regulatory Compliance | Expert Witness & Legislative Advisor

Overview

A deeply experienced natural gas operations and safety professional with a career spanning field response, regulatory enforcement, union leadership, and high-stakes forensic consulting. Investigated hundreds of gas explosions and fires, providing expert analysis, code interpretation, and testimony for legal, regulatory, and municipal clients. Experience includes leading legislative initiatives, strengthening pipeline safety regulations, and collaborating with federal and state oversight agencies. Background includes extensive training in operator qualifications, corrosion inspection, leak investigation, pipeline pressure control, and gas fitting. Early career service in U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy aviation QA roles built a foundation of disciplined technical inspection and safety systems expertise.

Short Bio

A respected national authority in natural gas safety, pipeline integrity, and explosion investigation with decades of field, regulatory, and expert witness experience. Investigated hundreds of major incidents, authored key legislation, and supported regulatory bodies nationwide with advanced technical and forensic expertise.

What I Bring

  • Extensive experience investigating 200+ gas explosions personally and 300+ through consulting operations

  • Deep technical mastery of federal PHMSA regulations and incorporated standards

  • Expert witness experience across multiple jurisdictions, including depositions and courtroom testimony

  • Strong command of gas leak detection, grading, investigation, and emergency response

  • Legislative and regulatory advisory experience, including authoring Massachusetts gas safety law

  • Broad operator qualification coverage across pipeline inspection, repair, pressure control, and valve operation

  • Strong history of regulatory compliance enforcement and agency collaboration

  • Expertise supporting municipalities, legal teams, utilities, and regulatory bodies

Key Technologies & Product Expertise

  • Pipeline materials: steel, PE, PVC, PA11, PA12

  • Corrosion inspection and maintenance systems

  • Regulator stations, valves, pressure control systems

  • Gas leak detection and grading equipment

  • SCADA display standards (API RP 1165)

  • Federal standards including API, ASME, ASTM, NFPA, NACE

  • Hazardous materials handling and emergency response tools

  • Aviation QA systems (military and civilian)

Titles Held

  • President & Consultant, NatGas Consulting (2011–Present)

  • Chairman & President, New England Gas Workers Association (2005–2015)

  • Proprietor, Affordable Heating (1997–2001)

  • Labor Representative, UWUA Local 446G / BUW-UWUA Local 318 (1993–2005)

  • Director of Gas Regulatory & Legislative Matters, BUWNE (1999–2005)

  • President, BUWNE (2003–2005)

  • Vice President, BUWNE (2001–2003)

  • Field Services Technician / District Regulator Leader, National Grid (1991–2011)

  • Civilian Aviation QA Inspector, U.S. Navy Test Center (1987–1989)

  • Quality Assurance Inspector, U.S. Marine Corps (1981–1986)

Career Highlights

  • Authored Massachusetts natural gas safety legislation (Section 105A, Chapter 164 MGL)

  • Personally investigated 200+ gas explosions and fires across the U.S. and Canada

  • Led consulting organization that investigated 300+ explosion/fire incidents

  • Provided expert witness testimony in multiple courts and 40+ depositions

  • Directed legislative agendas and regulatory strategy for gas worker associations

  • Conducted field inspections, leak surveys, and regulatory violation assessments for public entities

  • Served as technical liaison to cities, towns, and pipeline safety regulatory bodies

  • Completed extensive OQ qualification covering the most requirements in National Grid operations

  • Delivered emergency response, leak investigation, gas fitting, piping installation, corrosion control, and regulator maintenance for two decades

  • Held aviation QA inspector roles supporting high-power engine testing and flight operations

Education & Professional Certifications

  • Boston English High School, Boston, MA

  • University of Massachusetts, Quincy, MA – Labor Guild Program Credits

  • Naval Air Center – Aviation Training (multiple certifications)

  • Extensive military aviation courses (A-4E-J, F-18, T-38, AV-8B, ordnance, avionics, hydraulics)

  • Plane Captain Certification

  • QA Inspector Certifications (USMC & Civilian)

  • Northeast Gas Association Gas School Certifications (2003–04, 2010)

  • Certified Hazardous Material Handler (2006–2014)

  • Multiple National Grid operator qualifications across 60+ categories

Languages

English- Native

Impact

  • Drove national improvements in natural gas safety by combining forensic investigation, regulatory expertise, and legislative leadership, influencing policy and strengthening industry compliance standards.

  • Led and advised investigations into hundreds of gas explosions and fires, delivering evidence-based findings that reshaped safety practices, regulatory actions, and legal outcomes across the U.S. and Canada.

  • Brought unmatched field-level operational knowledge to expert witness roles, supporting litigation, municipal oversight, federal investigations, and policy reform with technical authority and credibility.

  • Advanced utility safety culture and regulatory enforcement by integrating decades of gas operations experience with in-depth mastery of PHMSA regulations and incorporated technical standards.

Experience

40

Years of Experience

Fields of Expertise