Professional Biography
Gary Colburn is an expert forensic electrical engineer with over 10 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 & Certifications
- Professional Engineer (PE)
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
- Senior Managing Engineer | YA Engineering Services | 2023 - Current
- Principal Forensic Electrical Engineer | EFI Global | 2023 - 2018
- Forensic Electrical Engineer | Unified Investigations & Sciences | 2014 - 2018
- Electrical Distribution Engineer | Snohomish PUD | 2013 - 2014
- Transmission and Distribution System Planning | Seattle City Light | 1984 - 2013
Practices & Skillsets
- Computer Programming
- Condition Assessment
- Failure Analysis
- Fire Origin & Cause
- Infrared Thermography
- Lithium Battery Investigations
- NEC & NESC Expertise
- Power Electronics
- Power Generation
- Power Quality and Harmonic Analysis
- Products Liability
- Solar Array Inspection
- Transformer Failure Analysis
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering - Power Option, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
- 2014-2022 (Annually), Class III Asbestos Operations & Maintenance
- Fundamentals of Arctic Engineering, 2021, University of Alaska, Alaska
- Session 1 & 2, Fire Science & Dynamics and Thermodynamics & Thermometry, 2017, National Fire Protection Agency 1033
- NFPA 921 and 1033: Important Revisions, 2014, International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
- Arc Mapping Basics, 2014, International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
- Basic Electricity, 2014 , International Associate of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
- Process of Elimination, 2014, International Associate of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
- David J. Marne, PE, Marne & Associates, 2009, National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) Training
- Harmonics, 2005, IEEE P&E Society Meeting, Dallas, Texas
- NFPA 70, 1999, National Electrical Code (NEC) Training
- Symmetrical Components, 1999, Seattle City Light
- 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
Professional Licenses
- Professional Electrical Engineer - Washington - License #26471
- Professional Electrical Engineer - Oregon - License #90151PE
- Professional Electrical Engineer - Idaho - License #P-16599