Dr. Brewer is an experienced mechanical engineer and technical consultant specializing in the investigation of failures, accidents, and other technical issues related to a variety of products, components, equipment, and systems. As a licensed Professional Engineer, Dr. Brewer uses fundamental mechanical engineering and physics principles to analyze complex technical problems for clients and serves as a consulting and testifying expert in disputes.
The breadth of Dr. Brewer’s practice includes experience with a wide range of products, systems, and industries. He has extensive experience investigating the cause of failures and incidents associated with consumer products and appliances (e.g., pressure cookers, blenders, washing machines, coffee makers, refrigerators, power tools, water filters, furniture, fitness equipment, ladders) as well as individual component failures (e.g., metal and polymer piping, fittings, valves, hoses, fasteners). Dr. Brewer has also examined numerous issues related to the built environment, including the evaluation of alleged damage or defects associated with HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, and fire protection systems in residential, multi-family, and commercial buildings. In addition, he has evaluated moisture intrusion, building science, and suspected fungal growth issues in residential and commercial structures that were related to mechanical equipment design/installation, ventilation, building envelope deficiencies, and water leaks.
Dr. Brewer is frequently tasked with evaluating the circumstances surrounding heavy equipment incidents resulting in both property/equipment damage and personal injury. He has determined the root causes of incidents involving equipment such as aerial lifts, bucket trucks, excavators, tractors, sweepers, dump trucks, and powered industrial trucks/forklifts. In addition, Dr. Brewer has also investigated the causes of fires and explosions involving gas piping, furnaces, recreational vehicles, ranges, grills, restaurant cooking/ventilation equipment, and industrial dryers. He has also analyzed issues related to industrial equipment and systems (e.g., cranes, boilers, loading arms, safety bridges, pumps, air/natural gas compressors, grain elevators/silos, oil/gas pipelines, electric motors, food manufacturing/processing equipment, hydraulic machinery), as well as medical devices (e.g., insulin pumps, infusion pumps, and oxygen flowmeters).
Dr. Brewer is proficient in numerous three-dimensional scanning, photogrammetry, and modeling technologies for the purposes of non-destructive documentation, engineering analysis, photo-matching, prototyping, reverse engineering, and 3D printing. He has used these tools in investigations involving accident scenes, large-scale vehicles and equipment, commercial/residential buildings, and small components/products.
Before joining Secretariat, Dr. Brewer was a Senior Mechanical and Electrical Practice Leader at a large international engineering and consulting firm, where he provided technical oversight to mechanical engineers throughout the United States, assisted with training of new engineers, and developed his own consulting practice. Prior to this role, Dr. Brewer was a Senior Engineer in the Mechanical Engineering Practice at another large scientific and engineering consulting firm. Dr. Brewer earned a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University with a research focus on the design, characterization, and implementation of microfluidic systems for use in biomedical applications. Dr. Brewer has also contributed to the development of a miniature insulin delivery pump employing an ion-selective membrane, as well as served as a teaching assistant for mechanical engineering laboratory classes focused on engineering measurement techniques and the use of experimental methods in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics to analyze energy conversion systems. In addition, he has authored or co-authored over a dozen journal and conference papers and is a licensed professional mechanical engineer in over a dozen states.