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Professional Biography

Kevin Brown is a Senior Project Manager at YA Group with broad engineering experience spanning the automotive, appliance, industrial, and consumer products industries. Kevin’s passion for engineering took root early, shaped by time spent accompanying his father — a civil engineer — on construction sites. He began his career as a manufacturing engineer in the automotive industry, progressing into engineering management and director roles, and brings that hands-on foundation to his forensic consulting practice at YA Group. He provides expert services in root cause analysis of mechanical system failures, origin and cause investigations in structural, equipment, and vehicle fires and explosions, accident reconstruction, and product defect investigations including subrogation.

Kevin has extensive experience in the design and manufacture of automotive, appliance, industrial, and consumer products, the successful launch of multiple manufacturing lines, and consulting across various industries. He has also taught mechatronics and engineering at the community college level, reflecting both his technical depth and his ability to communicate complex engineering concepts clearly.

Credentials & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer (PE)
  • CFEI
  • CVFI

Representative Consulting Assignments

  • Circular Saw | Talladega, Alabama — Determine root cause of malfunction of a circular saw resulting in injury to the user
  • Water Line Repair Fitting | Fort Mill, South Carolina — Determine cause of water damage to school gymnasium resulting from a recent plumbing repair
  • Coal Conveyor | Pikeville, Kentucky — Determine scope of damage and repair cost estimates for collapsed coal conveyor in storage and processing facility
  • Medical Incinerator | Memphis, Tennessee — Conduct origin and cause investigation of fire in hospital medical incinerator facility
  • Foundry Vessel | Ghent, Kentucky — Conduct origin and cause investigation of explosion in steel foundry crucible. Evaluated scope of damage to facility and equipment
  • Biodiesel Plant | Shelbyville, Tennessee — Conduct origin and cause investigation of explosion of an ethanol tank
  • Acrylic Sheet Production | Memphis, Tennessee — Developed scope of damage and repair cost estimates resulting from explosion in furnace
  • Rock Crusher | Nashville, Tennessee — Conduct origin and cause investigation of explosion in a rock crusher
  • Skid Steer Fire | Spartanburg, South Carolina — Conduct origin and cause investigation of fire resulting from diesel emission system delete
  • Tractor Trailer Rollover | Heflin, Alabama — Determine cause of rollover of tractor trailer carrying manufacturing equipment
  • Three Vehicle Crash | Columbia, South Carolina — Reconstruct crash involving three vehicles to determine which vehicle was at fault
  • Foundry Injury | Brewton, Alabama — Expert testimony regarding design and installation of a foundry conveyor system involved in amputation of employee’s fingers
  • Evaluate Sprinkler System | Louisville, Kentucky — Expert testimony on cause of sprinkler head discharge in long term care facility
  • Water Heater | Nashville, Tennessee — Expert testimony on cause of leak in water heater, resulting in water damage to stores in a strip mall
  • Residential Fire | Graniteville, South Carolina — Expert trial testimony on origin and cause of fire

Professional Experience

  • Senior Project Manager | YA Group | 2025 - Current
  • Consulting Engineer | Engineering Design & Testing Corp | 2022 - 2025
  • Manufacturing Engineering Manager | Gibson Guitar Custom Shop | 2021 - 2022
  • Assistant Professor | Motlow State Community College | 2018 - 2022
  • Consulting Engineer | Engineering Design & Testing Corp | 2012 - 2018
  • Director of Engineering | Wastequip, LLC | 2009 - 2019
  • Consulting Engineer | The Access Group, LLC | 2005 - 2009
  • Owner | 12th Fret Manufacturing Services | 2003 - 2018
  • Mechanical Engineering Manager | A.O. Smith Water Heater Co. | 2002 - 2003
  • Engineering Manager | Gibson Guitar Company | 1997 - 2002
  • Lead Manufacturing Systems Engineer | Delphi Chassis Division, General Motors | 1990 - 1997

Education

  • Master of Science (MS), Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
  • Bachelor of Science (BS), Mechanical Engineering, University of Missouri, Rolla, Missouri

Professional Licenses

  • Professional Engineer (PE) - South Carolina - License #40513
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - North Carolina - License #054793
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Georgia - License #PE037515
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Florida - License #PE94712
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Alabama - License #PE33312
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Kentucky - License #29037
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Ohio - License #59418
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Tennessee - License #116057
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Texas - License #150860
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Louisiana - License #PE.0050314
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Arkansas - License #15471
  • National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveying Record - License ##16-859-13
  • NAFI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator - License #CFEI#17651-10085
  • NAFI Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator - License #CVFI#17651-10085v
  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Missouri - License #2013025016