![John a palmer](/system/interviewee_images/256/original/John A Palmer.jpg?1358444641)
Name John Palmer, PhD
- Education Ph.D. Electric Power Engineering 1996; M.Eng. Electric Power Engineering 1992; B.S. Electrical Engineering 1991, Power Emphasis, Math Minor, Brigham Young University
- Target Audience High School
Forensic engineers like Dr. John Palmer are charged with investigating fires, explosions and electrical system failures. Did we spark your interest? Read on to learn more about why the field of forensic engineering is on fire!
I have 2 jobs - I am the owner of a company and I'm also a forensic engineer, which is a type of engineer that investigates product or system failures that may result in harm to a person or property damage. My focus, in particular, is cause and origin analysis of electrical accidents, electrical equipment failures, electrical fires, structural fires, vehicle fires, and explosions. I also perform product testing and design review, as well as consult on cases involving industrial processes, elevators, consumer electronics, electric shock and electrocution. I am considered an expert on forensic engineering and sometimes I'm asked to testify in court if there is a legal matter involving cause and origin analysis of electrical accidents and product failures.
My interest in electricity and electrical systems sparked before I was in high school when my parents decided to build an addition on our house. My grandfather did all of the electrical work and I got to be his electricians' helper. I was very intrigued by the electrical systems in our house. After that experience I thought I wanted to become an electrician, but as I was going through high school and taking a lot of math and science courses, I realized that I didn't want to be an electrician - I wanted to focus on electrical engineering. So, I studied electrical engineering all through college and continued my focus in that area during graduate school.
One of the things that I really like about my job is that the average day is far from average. There is always something different or new going on. In my line of work, a typical project may be initiated by a call from an attorney representing an electrical contracting company being sued for a fire that happened. The company may be getting sued for electrical work they did in the building that resulted in the fire and subsequent property damage or even personal harm to someone. The attorney knows our laws, but may not be familiar with electrical systems and fires and wants to understand what really happened, so they call me. I will then go to the scene of the accident and investigate what happened, including burn patterns and different features of the electrical system, using various methods of analysis and tools. Once I've collected all of the information I need, I write a report detailing my findings, which is used in the legal case. Sometimes I am asked to answer questions about my written report and my expertise during a deposition. Sometimes, the case goes to trial and I am called into court to testify as an expert witness. My testimonyhelps the jury determine what role, if any, my client had in the fire starting and burning.
I love the variety. I was asked to describe a typical day or project, but there isn't one in my field. I've had cases ranging from a house fire started by a toaster that caused $20,000 in damage to a large power plant explosion resulting in 600 million dollars in damages. Applying my knowledge and training to a vast array of different cases is probably what I enjoy most about my job.
I always enjoyed science and math, but when I was in high school there weren't any engineering courses offered. I remember particularly enjoying math - when I was in 8th grade I had a math teacher that took an interest in me and really encouraged me to continue taking advanced math courses. He called me the "human computer" - it's not like I was someone with extraordinary smarts, but he sure made me feel that way. That particular teacher really helped my self-esteem and strongly impacted my love for math.
There have been several challenges. The biggest obstacle for me was finishing my doctorate. The difficulties associated with my research that had to be developed into my thesis were the toughest mountain to climb over the course of my career. However, in my first job as a forensic engineer, before I started my company, there were some hard lessons learned as well. I had some tough conversations with my boss who explained to me that I didn't write particularly well and helped me to understand what I needed to do to improve my writing skills. I did need to develop my writing skills, but it's hard to not feel discouraged when you're told you're not good at something. More recently in my career, I faced challenges related to starting my own business. When you start a new company, you have to get your name out there and build a good reputation in order to get enough clients, which can be quite challenging as well.
While I was in graduate school, a speaker came to one of my classes and presented the results of an investigation of a catastrophic electrical accident and I was blown away. I was fascinated not only by the electrical systems, but the analysis conducted by the forensic engineers investigating the accident. Up until that point, I didn't even know forensic engineering existed, let alone pursuing it as my career. Listening to that presentation introduced me to electrical forensic engineering and strongly motivated me to pursue that field.
Look for opportunities to help out at an engineering firm, even if it's just administrative work. Also, doing any kind of hands-on work - construction during the summer or helping out with a family project like I did. Any experience you can have where you are using your hands for a technical application will be useful. Taking classes is great, but they cannot provide the clarity that hands-on experiences will give you. Engineering degrees like chemical, mechanical or electrical are all a good fit because you can apply any of those disciplines to a forensic engineering career.
The field of forensic engineering is not an evolving field in and of itself - the fundamental principles we use are permanent. However, the technical side of this field will change dramatically overtime. Control systems will become more sophisticated overtime and forensic engineers will need to keep up with the advancements in technology so they can employ a full arsenal of tools to use during investigations.
The beautiful thing about engineering is that it makes the world go around. Everything we use in our lives has been engineered at some level and every discipline of engineering is a vital part of our society.
To read more about Dr. Palmer's work, check out some of his case studies!
(adapted from usfa.fema.gov)
Deposition - a statement under oath, taken down in writing, to be used in court
Electrocution - to be killed by electricity
Testimony - the statement or declaration of a witness under oath
(adapted from dictionary.com)
Forensic engineers like Dr. John Palmer are charged with investigating …