Wes Jordan

PE, SE, F.ASCE

Director of Engineering

Biography

James W. “Wes” Jordan is a civil and structural engineer with over 35 years of experience in structural design and forensic engineering across residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, power generation, agricultural, and manufacturing sectors. Wes is a valued member of the Engineering team at YA Group.

He evaluates a wide range of damage conditions, including construction defects, moisture intrusion, structural failure, overloading, differential foundation movement, construction vibration, blasting or explosion impacts, natural disaster damage, vehicle impacts, and fire‑related failures. Over his career, Wes completed forensic engineering evaluations of hundreds of buildings and structures affected by these conditions.

Wes was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (F.ASCE) in 2023 and served as President of the Indiana Structural Engineers Association. He was also appointed by the governor to the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, where he served for eight years across two terms. He authored or co‑authored 12 peer‑reviewed papers published by ASCE for Structural and Forensic Engineering Congresses. Wes has provided expert testimony in both trial and deposition settings, including serving as an expert witness during a federal court trial related to Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Credentials

  • PE | Professional Engineer
  • SE | Structural Engineer
  • F.ASCE

Representative Consulting Assignments

  • Vehicle impact damage to residential and commercial buildings, and bridges | Indiana and Illinois | Determined extent of structural damage and provided repair recommendations.
  • Tornado damage assessment for residential and commercial buildings | Multiple Midwest states | Determined extent of wind damage and provided repair recommendations from numerous tornado events for past 20 years.
  • Vibration or explosion damage evaluation for residential and commercial buildings | Multiple Midwest states | Determined extent of damage caused by reported vibration or explosion sources, including nearby construction activities and natural gas explosions.
  • Wind and hail damage evaluations for residential and commercial buildings | Multiple states | Evaluated reported wind and hail damage to building envelopes and structural components.
  • Collapse/failure investigations for various structures | Multiple states | Determined origin, cause, and extent of structural and material damage from a variety of sources including snow/ice loading, wind and surge forces, earthquakes, stormwater accumulation, construction/design defects, unanticipated soil conditions, long-term deterioration/decay, etc.
  • Steel and post-tensioned concrete tank failures | Indiana | Determined the cause of structural failures of municipal water and wastewater tanks.
  • Mine subsidence of residential and commercial buildings | Indiana and Illinois | Indiana and Illinois | Evaluated reported damage from mine subsidence and provided repair recommendations, including structures in southern Illinois.
  • Fire damage evaluations for residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, and agricultural structures | Determined extent of damage and provided repair recommendations.
  • Hurricane damage assessment of residential and commercial structures | Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and New York | Discerned wind from surge/flood damage and provided repair recommendations. Experience with evaluating hurricane damage for structures.

Professional Experience

  • 2026 - Current | Director of Engineering | YA Group
  • 2002 - 2026 | Vice President, Property Practice | Rimkus
  • 1999 - 2002 | Structural Department Manager/Branch Office Manager | Middough Associates Inc.
  • 1990 - 1999 | Asst. Structural Dept. Manager | Superior Engineering Corporation
  • 1988 - 1990 | Staff Engineer | A. Epstein & Sons International, Inc.
  • 1987 - 1988 | Research Consultant / Structural Engineer | Truswal Systems Corp.
  • 1986 - 1987 | Staff Engineer | Edward L. Wilson, Jr. Consulting

Area of Practice

  • Building Envelope
  • Construction Defect Reviews 
  • Damage Assessment
  • Structural Analysis

Publications and Presentations

  • Jordan, J. W., S. M. Kleps, R. A. Kimble. 2024. “UG Water Storage Tank: Lessons Learned with Helical Anchors.” In Proc., 10th Forensic Engineering Congress. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
  • Sharara, L. M., J. W. Jordan. 2022. “Water Intrusion Ice Damming Assessments.” In Proc., 9th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W., R. A. Kimble, A. J. Sharer. 2018. “Commercial Roofing Condensation – Lessons Learned.” In Proc., 8th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W., R. A. Kimble, A. J. Sharer. 2015. “Ceiling Failures.” In Proc., 7th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W., A. J. Sharer, R. A. Kimble. 2015. “Richmond Hill Subdivision Explosion Case Study.” In Proc., 7th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W., M. A. Sokol, J. H. Stewart. 2012. “Fire Damage Evaluation for Residential and Commercial Buildings.” In Proc., 6th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W., C. D. Rogers. 2012. “Flood Damage Evaluation for Residential Structures.” In Proc., 6th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Sharara, L. M., J. W. Jordan, R. A. Kimble. 2009. “Residential Roofing Evaluation.” In Proc., 5th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W., L. M. Sharara. 2009. “Roof Collapse Case Study: Drainage Design Issues.” In Proc., 5th Congress on Forensic Engineering. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W. 2007. “Tornado Damage Assessment for Structural Engineers.” In Proc., Forensic Engineering Sessions of the 2007 Structures Congress. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W., S. L. Paulius. 2006. “Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina.” In Proc., 4th Forensic Engineering Congress. ASCE.
  • Jordan, J. W. 2005. “Roof Drainage Design & Analysis: Structural Collapses, Responsibility Matrix, and Recommendations.” In Proc., 2005 Structures Congress and 2005 Forensic Engineering Symposium. ASCE.
  • Brawley, J. W., Jordan, J. W. October 2021. “Investigating Deck Failure Claims.” Claims Magazine / PC360.

Education

  • Purdue University (Calumet) - Master of Business Administration
  • Texas A&M University - Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering (Structural emphasis)

Training Courses

  • Diagnosis, Repair, and Restoration of Building Facades (ASCE)
  • Rapid Visual Assessment Procedures for Structural Damage Caused by Earthquake and Wind (7 hours)
  • Simpson Strong-Tie Workshop
  • Roof Technology, Maintenance and Inspection Training (Cindott, 29.5 hrs)
  • Thermal Imaging Theory and Equipment Applications
  • Structural Condition Assessment of Existing Structures (ASCE)

Affiliations

  • American Society of Civil Engineers
  • Indiana Structural Engineers Association
  • National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES, Model Law Structural Engineer)
  • Structural Engineering Institute
  • Order of the Engineer

Licenses

  • 82759 - Florida - Professional Engineer
  • 081005132 - Illinois - Structural Engineer
  • PE19300498 - Indiana - Professional Engineer
  • P17187 - Iowa - Professional Engineer
  • 23185 - Kentucky - Professional Engineer
  • PE.0032015 - Louisiana - Professional Engineer
  • 6201050178 - Michigan - Professional Engineer
  • 42940 - Minnesota - Professional Engineer
  • 2003011895 - Missouri - Professional Engineer
  • 16950 - Mississippi - Professional Engineer
  • 092019 - New York - Professional Engineer
  • PE.67872 - Ohio - Professional Engineer
  • 123718 - Texas - Professional Engineer