Benjamin (Ben) Irwin has been promoted to Associate Vice President of Engineering, a role that reflects both his technical depth and his investment in the people around him. In this position, Ben leads onboarding, training, and mentoring for forensic staff, provides technical guidance and review, and oversees professional development and qualifications management across the team. He brings over 26 years of experience in forensic engineering to that work, and the range of what he’s seen in the field makes him a natural fit for developing the next generation of forensic consultants.
Ben’s practice spans forensic engineering, architectural and construction consulting, damage and repair assessments, construction defect and design deficiency analysis, safety engineering, and expert witness litigation support. He is a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in 27 U.S. states and holds licensure as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in British Columbia, Canada. He is also recognized as a Model Law Engineer (MLE) by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and holds the Diplomate Forensic Engineer (DFE) designation, as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. These credentials reflect a sustained commitment to technical rigor across a broad geographic footprint.
Responding When It Counts
One of the clearest illustrations of Ben’s approach to forensic engineering is how he handles high-urgency situations. On a vehicle impact assignment involving structural collapse potential, Ben assembled a multi-disciplinary team of experts within 24 hours, mobilized 3D scanning equipment and high-reach lifts, and issued a same-day letter documenting the imminent collapse risk. When the structure partially collapsed the following weekend, Ben coordinated a second rapid response, which included managing collapse progression risks, debris removal, and the inspection and remediation effort that followed. That kind of response is the product of combined experience in complex claims investigation, major loss response, and structural failure analysis.
Methodology That holds Up
Ben’s approach to forensic investigation is methodical and data-driven, which matters in litigation consulting and expert witness contexts, where the work products must be technically sound and defensible. In a fire-damage loss case involving a building adjacent to a collapsed structure, he used 3D scanning technology from nearby rooftops to assess structural deformation before any interior access was attempted, then used that data to plan a safe entry sequence. The investigation was completed without triggering further collapse, and the findings were well-documented and litigation-ready from the start.
This kind of approach — using technology to make investigations safer and more precise — is what distinguishes strong, hands-on, forensic engineering practice from other alternatives.
Building Teams That Work
Ben is direct about the fact that no two assignments are the same, and he builds his teams accordingly. Complex claims investigation requires matching the right expert to the right problem, and Ben is deliberate about assembling cross-functional teams that leverage individual strengths without redundancy. He engages clients early to help them clarify their needs and align expectations with what a scientifically reliable investigation can actually deliver. That early alignment tends to produce better investigations with fewer surprises down the road.
Where He's Focused Next
As he steps into the AVP role, Ben is focused on two things: developing the engineers and consultants around him and continuing to improve how complex field data gets communicated to clients. He’s particularly passionate about finding better and more effective ways to translate large-scale, multi-expert investigations into simple and easy-to-understand visualizations that are clear, concise, and useful, both for clients trying to make decisions and for the litigation support work that follows. That focus on communication, collaboration, coordination, and clarity is the same thing that makes a strong expert witness, and it’s what Ben and his teams bring to every engagement.
