Gary W. Colburn, PE

Biography

Gary Colburn is an expert forensic electrical engineer with over ten years of experience in forensic investigations and failure analysis. He has been an expert witness and led investigations for subrogation and liability losses involving fire and water damage where the electrical system is engaged.

Gary is a former power system engineer with 30 years of power utility experience in the design of transmission and distribution systems and additional knowledge in generation and substation design and how the power system affects the customer’s electrical and plumbing systems.

Credentials

PE | Professional Engineer

Representative Consulting Assignments

Commercial Building Fire | Seattle, WA | Acted as Principal Consulting Engineer in the defense of a $15 million frozen food building fire.
Multi-Level Apartment Complex Fire | Everett, WA | Determine cause of a multi-story apartment complex fire.
Electrocution | Provided deposition testimony, citing crucial language from the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), of the incident which injured a painter who made contact with high voltage wires due to proximity to the building resulting in a settlement of the case and a win for the client.
Sports Complex | Seattle, WA | Led the design and engineering of 26kV switchgear, electrical vaults, and multiple feeders for Seattle Seahawks and Mariners stadiums.

Professional Experience

2023 - Current | Senior Managing Engineer | YA Engineering Services
2023 - 2018 | Principal Forensic Electrical Engineer | EFI Global
2014 - 2018 | Forensic Electrical Engineer | Unified Investigations & Sciences
2013 - 2014 | Electrical Distribution Engineer | Snohomish PUD
1984 - 2013 | Transmission and Distribution System Planning | Seattle City Light

Area of Practice

Communications Engineering
Computer Programming
Condition Assessment
Controls Engineering
Damage Assessment
Distribution
Electrical Engineering Design
Litigation Support
Failure Analysis
Fire Origin & Cause Investigations
Forensic Electrical Engineering
Infrared Thermography
Lithium Battery Investigations
NEC & NESC Expertise
Non-Destructive Testing
Power Electronics
Power Generation
Power Quality and Harmonic Analysis
Power Systems Engineering
Products Liability
Solar Array Inspection
Transformer Failure Analysis
Transmission

Education

Washington State University - Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering - Power Option - Pullman - Washington
Class III Asbestos Operations & Maintenance - 2014-2022 (Annually)
University of Alaska - Fundamentals of Arctic Engineering - 2021 - Alaska
National Fire Protection Agency 1033 - Session 1 & 2, Fire Science & Dynamics and Thermodynamics & Thermometry - 2017
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) - NFPA 921 and 1033: Important Revisions - 2014
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) - Arc Mapping Basics - 2014
International Associate of Arson Investigators (IAAI) - Basic Electricity - 2014
International Associate of Arson Investigators (IAAI) - Process of Elimination - 2014
National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) Training - David J. Marne, PE, Marne & Associates - 2009
IEEE P&E Society Meeting - Harmonics - 2005 - Dallas - Texas
National Electrical Code (NEC) Training - NFPA 70 - 1999
Seattle City Light - Symmetrical Components - 1999
Solar Power Part I - Design for Small Structures
Solar Power Part II - Design for Grid-Tie Systems
Solar Power Part III - Design Considerations
Solar Power Part IV - Inspecting and Evaluating Systems
Solar Power Part V - Installing Systems
Water Systems and How They Fail
Design of Hybrid Power Plants
Electrical Storage Guide for Electrical Engineers
Best Practices for O&M of Photovoltaic and Energy Systems

Affiliations

International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Power and Energy Society

Licenses

26471 - Washington - Professional Electrical Engineer
90151PE - Oregon - Professional Electrical Engineer
P-16599 - Idaho - Professional Electrical Engineer