John Garman is a Forensics Expert with Aperture, LLC. at the Irvine office. His background is in mechanical and aerospace engineering, and automotive and heavy equipment engineering with a strong understanding of mechanical systems and mechanisms of failure.
Through his careers John served as a Sandia National Labs staff scientist, Director of Cummins Pacific high horsepower stationary generator emissions systems, director and instructor of Mechanical Engineering Design in Industry Program at UC-Irvine’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, and been a managing contributor to systems designs for government programs in both space and defense arenas including most recently Joint Services Small Arms Program Office (JASSP) AI rifle scope initiative and NASA’s SCIFLI program.
Dr. Garman holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has 7 patents and has published 22 papers in arenas ranging from thermal imaging to congestive heart failure.
John's Expertise
Mechanical Systems
Equipment Failures
Manufacturing Defects
Education
Bachelor of Science: Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, December 1991, emphasis on controls and vibration
Master of Science: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, December 1992, emphasis on Fluid Mechanics and Combustion
Ph.D.: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, June 1996, emphasis on Laser Diagnostics in Combustion Systems
Professional Certifications
FAA Private Pilot Certificate Holder
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate Holder
Event Data Recorder (EDR) Tool Technician, Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM)
Work Experience
Forensic Expert, Aperture LLC, Irvine, CA, (10/2025 - present)
• Analyses and specialties include and are not limited to severity assessment, rapid response, speed analysis, liability, collision avoidance, vehicle system dynamics, and Crash Data Retrieval (CDR)
• Conduct field inspections of accident locations and vehicles, utilizing UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System), FARO and Artec laser scanners, photographs, measurements, and EDR data retrieval to assist in analysis.
Program Manager, OKSI, Torrance, CA, (7/2022 -12/2023)
• Value Stream Management addressing cost challenges of low volume, high value defense arena products. Program management of imaging, multispectral, and hyperspectral systems for ground and aerial applications. Directed highly diverse and incredibly skilled team of engineers and scientists to develop elegant solutions to real world problem for industry and government agencies. Directed design of high-end EO/IR systems, requirements, sensor and hardware selection, sensor alignment, sensor calibration, thermal systems, aerodynamics, and other elements of EO/IR systems solutions. Developed and implemented concepts for a range of product issues and engineering solutions. Contributed to programs of interest including NASA's SAMI (SCIFLI Airborne Multispectral Imager) and USSOCOM 81mm Mortar Precision Guidance Kit.
Expert Witness, Associate, Peter Thom and Associates, Orinda, CA (8/93 - 9/22)
• Automobile and heavy transportation accident and failure reconstruction and documentation. Specialization in transportation fires, truck and bus cases, engine, suspension, and drivetrain failures. Duties included vehicle inspections, location inspections, engine teardowns, CDR/EDR imaging, and analysis.
Director of ‘Tier 4 Systems’, Emissions Systems for High Horsepower Stationary Generators, Cummins Pacific, LLC, Irvine, CA (9/2013 - 8/2015)
• Leader of 11 person 'Tier 4' Aftertreatment Program team comprising Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Marketing, Sales, Quality, and Customer Service. Hands on emission system development for large displacement diesel and natural gas generators ranging from 30 to 92 liters. Responsibilities include engineering and design, manufacturing, addressing revenue, gross margins, overhead and profitability; development of document control strategies and design standards; new product development and validation; implementation of ISO 9001; warranties and accruals; development of marketing materials.
Director, Engineering Design in Industry Program, Mechanical and Aerospace Department, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA (4/2007 - 9/2013)
• Primary responsibilities include student advising and experimental design, management, and implementation of a very large variety of combusting and non-combustion projects. These projects include but are not limited to the build of a small engine dyno for evaluation of 1-10 KW class DCCI engines, the design and construction of a GE Discover funded coal drop tube furnace, an Air Force SFO sponsored high speed turbine burner simulation, design and build of NSF funded wind tunnel for droplet evaporation studies, design of a system for flow visualization of non-Newtonian shear flows, and application of laser based combustion and flow visualization to these and other systems. Additional activities include proposal writing, creation and mentoring of independent research activities, and sponsor company recruiter and forty-four time instructor for the Engineering Design in Industry class, ME188.
Author and recipient of $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for development of a stored energy solar stove that enables carbon emissions-free cooking.
Senior Scientist, Opto-Knowledge Systems, Inc., Torrance, CA, (3/2002 -12/2007)
• Responsible for SBIR, commercial, and defense related proposal writing, contract management and administration, as well as all technical work on a variety of efforts including but not limited to Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy on liquid fueled rocket combustors, design,
16 Technology Dr., Suite 138 | Irvine, CA 92618 | O: (760) 931-9100 | aperturellc.com | January 2026
development, and demonstration of imaging spectrometer systems in the LW, MW, and VIS, design and implementation of variable aperture cold stop mechanisms for tactical IR cameras, arc jet diagnostics for health monitoring, piezo actuation of gimbals set. Extensive experience with cryogenics, vacuum systems, imaging and non-imaging optics, lasers, camera electronics, and all things mechanical. Winner of the Army SBIR quality award 2006. Developer and inventor (patent issued) for variable aperture cold stop mechanism currently being implemented in the next gen FLIR systems for US Army.
Senior Research Scientist, Orqis Medical, Lake Forest, CA, (7/1999 – 7/2001)
• Responsible for development and operation of cardiovascular research laboratory for product research and development, duties included all aspects of project management, centrifugal blood pump testing and evaluation, flow diagnostics including planar laser induced fluorescence and particle imaging velocimetry, fluid dynamic evaluations on systems under development, developed MMI and console for perfusion system. Inventor on primary Orqis patent.
Senior Scientist, Lumenyte International Corporation, Lake Forest, CA, (7/1998 – 7/1999)
• Responsible for new product development, engineering of special lighting systems utilizing fiber optics, development and implementation of advanced manufacturing equipment and general research and development, developed photometrics system for characterization of side emitting fiber optics.
Research Scientist, Rice Systems, Inc, Irvine, CA (11/1996 – 7/1998)
• Responsibilities included SBIR proposal writing and contract fulfillment, lead scientist and project manager for NASA SBIR contract to develop interferometer based diagnostic for improving crystal growth, investigated and evaluated remote sensing techniques including polarization difference imaging, technical lead on ARMY SBIR Phase II contract to develop waveguide gyroscope, development of various micro electro-optical sensors including a proposed laser doppler velocimetry system based on a single silicon wafer.
Research Assistant, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, (1/1992 - 7/1995)
• Developed laser-based thermometry system, designed and constructed laser laboratory facility, made improvements to computer-controlled fuel injected V-8 engine and dynometer used for evaluation of alternative fuels, instructed electronics and circuit class laboratory, designed and built inexpensive modeless dye laser, designed university darkroom.
Visiting Scientist, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, (6/1994 - 11/1994)
• Designed and implemented experimental study comparing CARS (Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy), DFWM (Degenerate Four Wave Mixing), and LIF (Laser Induced Fluorescence) for remote temperature sensing and measurement in low pressure combustion systems.
Mechanical Engineer, ISC Defense Systems, Columbia, PA, (6/1989 - 8/1989)
• Responsibilities included mechanical design and drawings of power supply for Navy P3 aircraft technical trainers.
Memberships
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 6162289462
National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists (NAPARS), 95058414
Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators (SATAI), 95058242
California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CA2RS), 95058379
Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM), 1515267
Capabilities
Accident Reconstruction
Mechanical Systems Design and Safety
Engine Failure Analysis
Vehicle Fires
Forklifts, Order Pickers, Heavy Equipment
Stationary Generators
John's Expertise
Mechanical Systems
Equipment Failures
Manufacturing Defects
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