Microbiology Expert Witness

Our microbiology expert witness is a fellow of ASTM and STLE.  He has more than 45 years field and laboratory research and consulting expertise in bioremediation and controlling the adverse effects of microbial growth in process fluids and industrial systems. In particular, Fred has provided root cause analysis diagnostic services and has developed condition monitoring and risk mitigation consulting support for major petroleum companies operating pipelines and petroleum product storage facilities.  In addition to technical consulting, he has served as an expert witness on litigation involving system failures and health and safety claims and is one of the most active expert witnesses on microbiology in North America.

Experience
May 1992 - Present
Private Practice
Marketing, expert witness, and technical consulting services: bioremediation; microbial contamination control in industrial process fluids and fluid handling systems, including fuel distribution and retail, metalworking fluids and cooling water; rapid detection of microbial contamination in fluids and fluid system surfaces.

• Associate Editor for International Biodegradation & Biodeterioration (2012-present) and for Lubrication Engineering (1998-2005). Chair: ASTM D.02.14 Working Group on Microbial Contamination in Fuels and Fuel Systems (1996-present). Chair: ASTM E34 Occupational Health and Safety (2018-present). Chair: ASTM E34.50 Health and Safety of Metalworking Fluids Subcommittee (2012-present). Chair and principal instructor, STLE Metalworking Fluid Management Certificate Training Course (2004-present). Vice-Chair: ASTM D.02.14 Fuel Stability and Cleanliness Subcommittee (2002-present), Vice President: International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society (2019 to present), Chair: STLE Executive Committee on the Harmonization of Certification and Education Programs (2011-12), STLE Metalworking Fluid Certification Steering Committee (2006-07), Metalworking Fluid Education & Training Subcommittee (2004-2006), Education Committee (1999-2000), Education Course Chairs Committee (1997-1999), various STLE education courses (1997-present).
• Representative Clients include: Afton Chemical Corporation, Air Products Polymers, L. P., American Chemical Products, Bayer Corporation (now Lanxess), BASF, Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer; Chevron Marketing, Combe, Inc., Consolidated Freightways, Inc., Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, FQS Group, Fuel Remediation Services, Inc., Ideas, Inc.; Instrumentation Laboratory, John W. Clark Oil Co., Lonza, Kline and Co., Magellan Midstream Partners, LP, Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC; Marathon Petroleum, LLC, Martin, Bacon and Martin; Milacron, Inc., National Biodiesel Board, NEW York City Transit Authority, Northwestern University, Rohm & Haas Company, Schülke & Mayr, GmbH, Southwest Research Institute, Trafigura Fuels Australia Pty Ltd, Troy Chemical and Union Carbide, United States Air Force, United States Navy.

 
1986 - 1992
ANGUS Chemical Company, Business Manager, Biocides
Northbrook, Illinois

• Responsible for industrial application market development and technical support.

• Stewarded 1986 - 1991 biocide sales growth from $4MM to $12MM. Average ten technical papers and Society seminar presentations per year. Program Chairman, Eighth International Biodegradation and Biodeterioration Symposium, 1990. Member of Total Quality Management implementation team.

 
1984 - 1986
Charter BioLabs, Vice President, Secretary; Operations Manager
Houston, Texas

• Developed laboratory and consulting services for clients in metalworking, waste stabilization and oil production industries.
• Representative consulting clients included ANGUS Chemical, Continental Can Corporations, E & A Environmental Consultants, Reynolds Metals, Stroh’s, and Water Science.

 
1982 - 1984
Frederick J. Passman, Consulting Microbiologist, Independent Consultant
Houston, Texas

• Provided consulting expertise on microbial problems in metalworking, petroleum production and municipal sewage sludge composting. Performed extensive application research and development on the HMB system for rapidly detecting microbial contamination in fluids. Developed two-piece aluminum can industry as market for the HMB system; now a standard tool for monitoring microbial contamination at can plants.
• Principal clients included Magnus Division of Economics Laboratories, Pillsbury Chemical Company, Rainwater Industries and KVM Engineering.

 
1981 - 1982
ERCO Petroleum Services subsidiary of Energy Resources Company, Vice President, Production Services
Houston, Texas

• Designed, built and staffed chemistry, microbiology, petrographics, and radiotracer laboratories. Developed business plan, managed operations, directed research and performed consulting services.

 
1977 - 1981
Energy Resources Company, Inc.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Microbiology Laboratory Manager

• Directed mission-oriented research for commercial and governmental clients. Successfully marketed laboratory and consulting services.
• Major projects included microbial population characterization in petroleum formations, biocide evaluations for tertiary oil production applications, composting oil spill clean-up wastes, USEPA sponsored Rural Drinking Water Survey.

Senior Microbiologist

• Supervised field research efforts.
• Principal project was Bureau of Land Management's Benchmark Study of the North Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. Coordinated round-the- clock, at-sea, microbiological studies during quarterly cruises. SCUBA diver/scientist for Marine Fisheries Services evaluation of the biological effects of oil platform discharges in the Gulf of Mexico.

 
1973 - 1977
University of New Hampshire, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Microbiology
Durham, New Hampshire

• Conducted field studies (SCUBA) and laboratory research of interactions between heavy metals and bacteria in marine and estuarine environments.

 
1970 - 1973
United States Navy, Damage Control Assistant, USS McKEAN DD784

• Electrical, Repair and Auxiliary Division Officer.
• Responsible for ship's structural integrity, electrical systems, auxiliary machinery and damage control readiness. Qualified as Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck (Fleet) and Surface Warfare Officer.

 
1973 - 1998
United States Naval Reserve

• Retired as CAPTAIN, USNR after 30+ years combined active and reserve service, having commanded six successive Naval Reserve units and received four Navy Commendation Medals.

Education

• University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, Ph.D. Marine Microbiology
• Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, A.B Microbiology

Certifications & Recognition

• ASTM, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit (Fellow)
• Fellow, STLE
• ASTM, The George V. Dyroff Award of Committee D02 Honorary Membership
• ASTM, Eagle Award
• STLE, Certified Metalworking Fluid Management Specialist Fellow, STLE
• STLE, Wilber Deutsch Memorial Award for the best article on a practical subject (1996 and 2011 Awardee)
• STLE, P. M. Ku Award for meritorious contributions and service

Professional Societies

• American Society of Microbiology
• ASTM International
  • Chair, E34 Occupational Health & Safety
  • Chair, E34.50 Health & Safety of Metalworking Fluids
  • Founding Chair, D02.14 Fuel Microbiology Working Group
  • Vice-chair, D02.14 Fuel Stability & Cleanliness
  • Past, Founding Chair D.02.14 Fuel Corrosivity Task Force
  • Technical Contact or task force member for approximately 65 ASTM Standards
• International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society
  • Vice President
• Energy Institute
• International Association for Stability and Handling of Liquid Fuels
• International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society
• National Association of Corrosion Engineers
• Naval Order of the United States
• Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Society for Tribology and Lubrication Engineering (Fellow)
  • Past Chair:
    • Education and Certification Harmonization Executive Committee
    • Education Course Committee
    • Education Committee
    • Metalworking Fluid Management Education Subcommittee
    • Metalworking Fluid Certification Steering Committee
    • Certification Board
• United States Naval Institute

  Publications, Papers, Presentations

• Approximately 70 published articles, book chapters, peer-reviewed papers and technical society presentations.

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