Chemical Process Design & Forensic Analyst Expert
David A. Rockstraw
PhD • P.E. • Fellow, AIChE
A chemical engineer, Professional Engineer and expert witness with over 35 years of experience across chemical process design, industrial research, forensic analysis and academia. Specialises in chemical process incidents, explosions and fires, patent disputes, environmental emissions, process safety and forensic analysis of chemical process data, with extensive experience providing expert opinions and testimony in complex technical disputes.
35+ yrs
Chemical engineering experience
30+ yrs
Academic & research experience
3
U.S. professional engineering licences
99
Publications & presentations listed
Overview
David Rockstraw is a highly experienced chemical engineering expert with over 35 years of experience spanning industrial research, academia and expert witness services. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and has held senior academic and leadership positions, including department head and distinguished professor in chemical engineering. David specialises in chemical process design, forensic analysis of industrial incidents, and intellectual property disputes involving chemical technologies. He has acted as an expert witness in numerous litigation and arbitration matters, including cases involving process safety, environmental contamination, patent infringement and chemical process failures. His work combines deep technical expertise with practical industry experience, enabling him to provide clear and robust opinions in complex engineering disputes.
Qualifications
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, B.S. Chemical Engineering, Purdue University
Professional Engineer (P.E.) – New Mexico, Professional Engineer (P.E.) – Texas, Professional Engineer (P.E.) – California and Fellow – American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Expertise & Experience
Chemical process design, analysis and optimisation, Forensic investigation of chemical process incidents (fires, explosions, emissions), Patent infringement and intellectual property disputes (chemical processes), Process safety, materials compatibility and standard of care, Environmental contamination and emissions analysis, Chemical engineering expert witness testimony
