PROFESSIONAL
- Mechanical Engineering Consultant
- Vehicular Accident Reconstruction
- Product Liability Investigations
SOCIETIES
- Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- Member, Society of Automotive Engineers
- Member, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
CURRENT POSITION
President and founder of The Thomas M. Grubbs Corporation
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, 1962
- Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma honorary engineering fraternities
- Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, The University of Houston, 1968
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
- Registered Professional Engineer State of Texas, #31744
- Commercial pilot: Single Engine, Multi‐Engine and Instrument Ratings
- USAF Contractor’s License, DUNS 968026880
EXPERIENCE
1963‐1994
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
- Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058
’63‐‘89
- Mechanical engineer responsible for the design and certification of hardware and other man‐rated mechanical devices in support of manned space flight. Many of these designed components flew aboard Gemini, Apollo, Apollo/Soyuz, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs. Support for the Apollo program included the design of Crew Specific hand tools for lunar exploration. The Shuttle Program involved spacecraft hardware as well as space suit hardware.
’89 –‘90
- Head, Aircraft Engineering Section, Aircraft Operations Division. Responsible for on‐going engineering and structural repair of more than forty NASA aircraft located at Ellington Field, Texas
’90‐‘94
- Chief, Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Branch. Responsible for sustaining engineering and maintenance for NASA aircraft. Included the direct supervision of 20 civil service professionals and more than 170 contractor personnel. Early retirement from NASA was accepted in 1994 after 31 years continuous service as a Civil Servant.
1973 to Present
- Forensic consulting engineer with primary emphasis on automotive accident reconstruction and mechanical design evaluation. Vehicular reconstruction is enhanced by the use of state of the art accident reconstruction software and an extensive library accumulated over more than 30 years. It is estimated that more than 2400 vehicular reconstructions have been undertaken and that a total of approximately 4000 lawsuits have been examined. Mechanical design evaluation is enhanced by more than 26 years experience as an “on the board” practicing design engineer. The mechanical evaluations are also assisted with up to date three dimensional computer aided design and drafting software as well as sophisticated structural analysis software. Practice includes both plaintiff and defense files.
Continuing Education
- Fifteen CEU hours per year since 2005 required in support of Professional Engineer’s License.
- Laser Technology two day hands on seminar regarding Accident Scene Mapping utilizing the ULTRALYTE survey equipment, February, 2005
- HVE Forum, Engineering Dynamics Corporation, San Diego, California, May 7‐10, 2000 Advanced HVE Case Studies Using EDCRASH, EDSMAC Accident Reconstruction Software.
- HVE Forum, Engineering Dynamics Corporation, San Diego, California, Feb 18‐21, 2008 Advanced HVE Case Studies Using EDCRASH, EDSMAC4 Accident Reconstruction Software.
- The Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium, Beverly Hills, California, September 24‐30, 1997
- Texas Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists Seminar, San Antonio, Texas, June 3‐5, 1999 regarding Braking Capabilities of Pick‐up Trucks and Trailers.
- CADKEY – 97, hands on 3‐D design software training, Houston, Texas, April 1997
Patents
- “Tension Measurement Device” U.S. Patent Number 3,381,527
- “Line Cutter” – U. S. Patent Number 3,320,669
- “Winch Having Cable Position and Load Indications” U. S. Patent Number 3,545,725
- “Discrete Local Altitude Sensing Device” U. S. Patent Number 3,303,304
Hardware Capabilities
- Ultralyte 222LR Laser survey equipment with CadZone scene software, Laser Technology, Inc., Centennial, CO
Computer Software
- HVE software including the EDCRASH and EDSMAC modules, Engineering Dynamics Corporation, Beaverton, OR 97008
- VCRWare accident reconstruction software, Brach Engineering, Inc., South Bend, IN
- Mathcad 13 software for the interactive construction of complex mathematical algorithms, Mathsoft Engineering & Education, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142
- KeyCreator design software for the creation of three dimensional drawings and solid bodies, Kubotek USA, Inc., Marlborough, MA 01752 (Formerly CADKEY)
- LapFEA finite element modeler and solver, LAPCAD Engineering, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Expert Autostats, forensic expert software, 4N6XPRT Systems, La Mesa, CA