Licensed professional engineer, registered in the state of Minnesota, with more than 30 years of mechanical engineering experience including hydraulic test equipment design, machining, forensic failure analysis with an emphasis on vehicle systems and fire investigation.

• Started and operates a successful business for 30+ years
• Strong engineering ability to trouble-shoot, analyze, and repair failed mechanical systems
• Unique design and application engineering skills
• Strong scheduling and organizational skills
• Goal orientated
• Broad base of interdisciplinary understanding in the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic fields
• Extensive vehicle fire investigation knowledge
• Complete design and build of fixtures to test failure hypotheses

1989-Present Consulting Mechanical Engineer and Expert Witness, Tonka Bay, Minnesota

Mechanical Engineer providing consulting engineering services to insurance, legal and industrial clients. Extensive work in failure analysis of mechanical systems and designs, observation of machinery disassembly, review of lab tests and shop records, submitting detailed engineering and photographic reports, and providing expert witness testimony. Specialist in vehicle and equipment failure analysis including fire investigations.

1980-Present President Wingfield Engineering Inc, Tonka Bay, Minnesota

Wingfield Engineering Inc. is a specialist in producing custom automotive, marine and truck transmissions for extreme duty applications. Specialty services include improving transmission performance with engineered enhancements such as reduced frictional losses, improved lubrication, increased clutch capacity, enhanced hydraulic controls, and custom gear ratios.

 

Design and build specialty power transmission machinery including manufacture of discontinued replacement components. Specific projects have included a high performance generator for a military project, redesign of hydraulic shift controls for vintage Chris-Craft boats, design and build of custom support frameworks, restoration of a museum quality 1924 Garwood boat transmission, and others.

1980-1981 Hydro-Mechanical Product Engineer , MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Engineering design of custom testing equipment for research and automotive applications. Responsibilities included cost quoting and design functions in high velocity hydraulic actuators. Notable achievements included design and development of a high flow-low pressure drop hydraulic manifold and a test system for aircraft landing gear.

1978-1980 Mechanical Design Engineer, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan

Responsibilities included engineering design and assembly modifications on heavy trucks with the focus on reduction of warranty costs and improving vehicle quality. Duties included scale-up and troubleshooting of electrical and mechanical design changes at the Heavy Truck Plant in Louisville, KY during model year changeover.

1978 Co-op Engineer, 3M Company, Maplewood, Minnesota

Designed, constructed and tested a pick-and-place machine for manufacture of surgical products. Developed a gripping device that could be easily released after final assembly.

1977 Co-op Engineer, Northern States Power, Sherco Power Plant, Monticello, Minnesota

Analyzed and resolved significant control issues associated with a failed to be commissioned black start generator. Significant exposure to the maintenance of a large state of the art coal-fired power plant.

Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering (with distinction), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1978

 

Certificates of Completion in Machining - 6 quarters, 1980, 1981, 1982 from Hennepin County Vo-Tech, Eden Prairie, MN.

 

More than 30 power transmission seminars and short courses, 1980 to date

 

ATRA – Automatic Transmission Failures and Methodology Seminar, Minneapolis, MN. 2002

 

Vehicle Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation Science & Technology Seminar, Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, 2002

 

Minnesota Institute for Legal Education (MILE) Minnesota Products Liability Seminar, 2002

 

Seminar on Vehicle Fire Investigations at the IAAI Convention, St. Cloud, MN, 2003

 

ATRA – Automatic Transmission Failures and Analysis, Minneapolis, MN, 2003

 

Fundamentals of Engineering Examination, St. Paul, MN, 2004

 

Professional Engineering Examination, Minneapolis, MN, 2005

 

Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigations Vehicle Fire Seminar, State College, PA, 2005

 

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Applied Brake Controls; ABS, TCS and ESC Seminar, Brimley, MI, 2007

 

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Role of the Expert Witness in Product Liability Litigation Seminar, Troy, MI, 2008

 

Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) 35W Bridge Tour and Presentation, Minneapolis, MN, 2008

 

Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) Forensic Engineering Seminar, Minneapolis, MN, 2008

 

Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) Xcel Energy High Bridge Power Plant Presentation, St. Paul, MN, 2009

 

Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) Ethics Case Studies Seminar, Eden Prairie, MN, 2009

“Distinctions in Design of Chevrolet Vehicles” presentation, Iten Chevrolet, Brooklyn Center, MN, 1985

 

“Strengthening TH200R4 Automatic Transmission for Extreme Load Applications” presentation, Buick Grand National Collectors, St. Louis Park, MN, 1989 and 1991

 

“Custom Power Transmission Design and Development” presentation, United Defense Corp., Fridley, MN, 1997

 

“Chris-O-Matic Redesign for Improved Reliability and Response Time” presentation, Bristol Classics Inc., Shorewood, MN, 1999

 

“Heavy Equipment Fire Seminar” presentation, IAAI Wisconsin, Rhinelander, WI, 2009

Registered Professional Engineer State of Minnesota.

 

Minnesota License # 44216

International Association of Arson Investigators (IAA) MN Chapter, 2003-present

 

Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) Member Number – 13842

 

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Member Number – 300005214

 

National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) Member Number – 8743V

 

Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE) Member Number – 6107690003

 

University of Minnesota Alumni Association Member Number - 800067709

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