Born in Scotland (1951), educated at University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, B.Sc. in Chemistry /Metallurgy J.Hons (1972), PhD in Engineering (1977). Following 12 years research in environmental-sensitive-fracture at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, moved to Alcan International Research Laboratories, Banbury, in 1981, broadening research interests to also include fracture, backward extrusion and pressure vessel technology for high-pressure gas containment.
Moved to Riverside, California in 1995 as Luxfer Gas Cylinders, Senior Vice President, global technology and innovation, retaining Adjunct Professorship at Case Western Reserve University, Ohio (1993-ongoing) and Visiting Professor at University of Central England in Birmingham, UK (1994 -97) and Newcastle University, UK (1999 -2005).
Become a self-employed consultant in 2008, retained by Luxfer Gas Cylinders and commissioned by other clients, including Apple, Inc., Airbus, Kaiser Aluminum, and US Air Force, in connection with structural failure analysis of aluminum alloy products. 2018 became a Visiting Professor at the University of Manchester.
Published over 150 papers. First named inventor on 7 globally granted patents on: aluminum alloys, metal-spray coatings, aluminum welding and pressure vessel technology involving high-strength aluminum alloys, autofrettage, co-extrusion, pressure regulation and surface treatments for stored gas stability.
