Peter R. Leffe, BsME, MArch, AIA, NCARB

Professional Specialization

Accident investigation, reconstruction and failure analysis. All forms of mechanical equipment and vehicle inspection including failure analysis. Design defect analysis, structural analysis and reconstruction. Analysis of controls, redundant systems, placement, use, design and warnings. Metallurgical analysis, fatigue failure, stress corrosion cracking and stress analysis. Architectural and construction consulting including failure analysis and design reviews. Winter sports equipment failure analysis. Ski technique and skier responsibility evaluation.

Court qualified in State and Federal courts, accident investigation, reconstruction, design, failure mode; aircraft, mechanical equipment, winter sports, construction defects, slip-trip and fall, vehicle braking systems, seat belts and others. Consultation, analysis and as needed, courtroom testimony in more than 250 cases over the past 18 years.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering with Metallurgy
          Indiana Institute of Technology, 1963-1968
Master of Architecture
          University of California, Berkeley, 1973-1976
Diplomat, National Counsel of Architectural Registration Boards
Federal Aviation Administration, Airline Transport Pilot, 1995
Certificate, Aircraft Accident Investigation
          School of Engineering
          University of Southern California, 1997
Federal Aviation Administration, Aviation safety counselor training, 2001
National Transportation Safety Board, First Responder training and certification, 2005

Professional Organization Memberships

Member, American College of Forensic Examiners
Member, National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists
Member, International Society of Air Safety Investigators
Member, Society of Automotive Engineers
Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Member, American Society of Civil and Architectural Engineers
Member, International Council of Building Officials
Member, International Code Council, L.A. Basin Chapter
Member, International Society for Skiing Safety
Member, Experimental Aircraft Association
Member, Warbirds of America Association
Former Member, NASA Astronaut Candidate Pool

Licenses

Registered Professional Architect
Federal Aviation Administration, Airline Transport Pilot
Federal Aviation Administration, Repairman's Certificate, Experimental Aircraft

Scholarships & Awards

The American Institute of Architects
          Waid Scholarship, 1974
The American Institute of Architects
          Institute Scholar, 1975
Experimental Aircraft Association
          T-18 Award, 1985

Teaching

Indiana Institute of Technology
          Teaching Assistant in Metallurgy
University of California at Berkeley
          Teaching Fellowship in Structural Engineering
University of California at Berkeley
          Teaching Assistant in Environmental Design
Chief instructor and check pilot, Airpower Aviation Resource
          Siai Marchetti Aircraft Distributor, USA
United States Navy Test Pilot School, Qualitative Evaluation Program
          Safety/Instructor Pilot
National Test Pilot School
          Safety/Instructor Pilot

Professional Experience

Associate Engineer/Scientist, McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corp., Long Beach, CA

Design engineering services group involved in design of wing structural components DC 10 and assigned to the Acoustic Research Group involved in the noise reduction program and testing of porous media. 1968 -

Research Associate in Environmental Design, The Farallones Institute, Berkeley, CA

Responsible for the design of geodesic and inflatable structures under a grant from the Ford Foundation and the Rosenberg Foundation. 1970 -

Product and Architectural Design, Berkeley, CA

Responsible for Architectural products and small Architecture projects. 1973 -

Architectural Intern and Engineer, The Architectural Group, Jackson, Wyoming

Responsible for Architectural design of residential and commercial projects. Provided engineering on projects and structural engineering consultation. 1976 -

Vice President, Pacific Western Psychiatric Medical Group

Group Architect, responsible for architectural renovation of 18 hospital units in the Southern California area, the management of physician employees, manager of intellectual property and litigation matters. 1981 -

Consulting Professional Architect and Engineer, Wyoming and California

General practice of Architecture. 1989 - Present

Consulting Architect

Consultation for Litigation. 1994 - Present

Consulting Mechanical Engineer and Metallurgist

Consultation for litigation. 1994 - Present