Firearms & Ballistics Expert Witnesses

Laveen, Arizona

Forensic Science, Firearms & Ballistics - Crime scene, DNA, Evidence, Biology, Chain of Custody, Controlled substances, DUI, Blood alcohol analysis, Criminalist, Forensic Quality Assurance, Evidence collection, Evidence integrity, Firearm Identification

Previously certified in Comprehensive Criminalistics by the American Board of Criminalistics, Deborah Stonebarger provides rigorous evaluation of forensic evidence, laboratory analyses, crime scene processing, and evidence collection. She has provided expert testimony in crime scenes, evidence collection and evidence integrity, forensic firearms identification, blood and breath alcohol analysis including impairment, and crime lab procedures. She assists in identifying errors and helps to support defense strategy. Deborah worked for 16 years for the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services. She helped process DNA samples to build California’s Offender DNA Database while working at the DNA laboratory, and was a recipient of the Attorney General’s Team award for this endeavor. She also worked at regional laboratories in Eureka, California and Redding, California where she assisted with crime scene processing and evidence testing for numerous law enforcement age...

San Diego, California

Firearms & Ballistics, Human Factors - Advanced Force Science Analyst, Use-of-Force, Investigations, Performance Factors, Gun Safety, Counter-ambush Training, Decision-making, Perception and Cognition, tunnel vision, Firearms Training, startle-reaction, Officer Involved Shooting, Self Defense Shooting, Home Defense Shooting, Tactical Operations, Security

Use-of-Force (UOF) Expert Witness and Advanced Force-Science Analyst with more than 20 years of international experience in executive protection, corporate risk management, and tactical medicine. Leveraging advanced certifications in defensive shooting, counter-ambush tactics, and force-science analysis, I provide courts, law firms, and law-enforcement agencies with scientifically grounded testimony, and actionable recommendations that withstand rigorous scrutiny.

Firearms & Ballistics, Business Operations - Green Beret/Special Forces, Gunsmith Armorer, Unintentional Discharges, Unintentional Trigger Pulls, Inherent Design Flaws, Firearms Mechanics, Firearms Training, Gun Range Safety and Standards of Care, Firearms Sales Standards of Care, Gun Rentals, Gun Sales, Gun Holsters, Gun Ranges, Ammunition, Risk Management, Gun Explosion

Professional Biography Aaron Forum SFC USA (Ret.) March 2026 Aaron Forum, SFC USA (Ret.), is a firearms safety, firearms mechanics, shooting-range operations, and negligent security expert with more than two decades of experience spanning U.S. Army Special Operations, high-volume commercial gun range operations, firearms training, and firearms industry consulting. He leads a multidisciplinary group of experts composed of former and current law-enforcement professionals, tenured gunsmiths, and security specialists who support complex litigation involving firearms, security failures, and safety standards of care. Mr. Forum is the founder and former CEO of Shoot Center LLC, a commercial indoor firearms training facility, retail operation, and e-commerce business in Cape Coral, Florida, which he built from inception to approximately $10 million in annual revenue while serving more than 100,000 customers. Over the course of his career, he has personally trained more than 10,000 firea...

Lake Arrowhead, California

Firearms & Ballistics, Accident Reconstruction - firearm, ammunition, ammo, ballistic, gun, cartridge, bullet, projectile, manufacture, load, weapon, antique, reconstruction, training, design, engineering, forensic, shooting, crime, scene

• Court recognized as an expert in Firearms, Ammunition, and Crime/Shooting Scene Reconstruction. • Licenses: Type 10 FFL (Manufacturer of Destructive Devices), Special Occupations Tax Stamp, and all Dangerous Weapons Permits available from the State of California, DOJ. • Ongoing resource/consultant to numerous reloading equipment, projectile, and firearm manufacturers, including the areas of safety, training, and design flaws. • Designed and manufactured firearms and fire control systems. • Certified and testified in crime scene reconstruction and shooting accidents. • Recognized in the firearms industry as an expert in antique and replica cartridge development and manufacturing, including the production of proof loads. “Official” ammunition benchmark for half a dozen firearm manufactures. • Provide educational opportunities on the ammunition manufacturing process and corresponding toolmarks for law enforcement agencies, specifically for their crime lab and firearm unit techn...

San Francisco, California

Police Practices & Procedures, Firearms & Ballistics - Use of Force, Arrest and Control, SWAT, Officer Involved Shooting

AREAS OF EXPERTISE - FIELD OPERATIONS AND DEPLOYMENT TACTICS Use of Force • Officer Involved Shootings • Force Management Review • Threat Assessment Procedures • Firearms • Weapon Tactics • Defensive Tactics/Patrol-Custody Officers • Less-Lethal and Impact Weapons • Arrest and Control Procedures • Prisoner/Inmate Control • Patrol Officer Tactics • Plain Clothes Officer Tactics • Negotiation Team Tactics • SWAT Team Operations • External Ballistics and Projectile Trajectories • Chemical Agents • Command Post Operations • Patrol Supervisor First Responder Procedures • Sniper Team Operations • Incident Command and Control Procedures • Critical Incident Management •Psychology and Physiology of Behavior in Critical Incidents • Warrant Service • Hostage Rescue Procedures • Aircraft, Ship and Oil Platform Recovery • Security/Guard Staff Procedures • Security/Vulnerability Assessments and Procedures • Helicopter Operations • Forced Breaching Methods and Procedures • Low-light/Night Opera...

Denver, Colorado

Firearms & Ballistics, Business Operations - Green Beret/Special Forces, Gunsmith Armorer, Unintentional Discharges, Unintentional Trigger Pulls, Inherent Design Flaws, Firearms Mechanics, Firearms Training, Gun Range Safety and Standards of Care, Firearms Sales Standards of Care, Gun Rentals, Gun Sales, Gun Holsters, Gun Ranges, Ammunition, Risk Management, Gun Explosion

Professional Biography Aaron Forum SFC USA (Ret.) March 2026 Aaron Forum, SFC USA (Ret.), is a firearms safety, firearms mechanics, shooting-range operations, and negligent security expert with more than two decades of experience spanning U.S. Army Special Operations, high-volume commercial gun range operations, firearms training, and firearms industry consulting. He leads a multidisciplinary group of experts composed of former and current law-enforcement professionals, tenured gunsmiths, and security specialists who support complex litigation involving firearms, security failures, and safety standards of care. Mr. Forum is the founder and former CEO of Shoot Center LLC, a commercial indoor firearms training facility, retail operation, and e-commerce business in Cape Coral, Florida, which he built from inception to approximately $10 million in annual revenue while serving more than 100,000 customers. Over the course of his career, he has personally trained more than 10,000 firea...

Florida

Firearms & Ballistics, Security - Justification, Lawful Use of Force, Firearms, Firearms Training, Firearms Training Accidents, Force on Force, Force on Force Training, Force on Force Training Accidents, Negligent Training, Air Soft Training, Air Soft Training Accidents, Security, Negligent Security, Concealed Carry, Deadly Force, Use of Force, Shooting, Firearms

Don Redl – Board Certified Investigator | Use-of-Force & Firearms Expert Don Redl is a Board Certified Investigator and Experienced Firearms & Use-of-Force Expert licensed in New York, North Carolina, Florida, and Wyoming. He brings over 30 years of experience as a New York State DCJS Certified Firearms Instructor (FA), General Topics / Use-of-Force Instructor (GT), Scenario-Based Force-on-Force (Sim) and Active Shooter Response Instructor, as well as Advanced Instructor Development Training in Brain-Based Tactical Training Design (NURO). Don holds the rating of Stock Service Pistol Master from the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and multiple instructor credentials from the National Rifle Association, including: NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, NRA Instructor in Pistol, Personal Protection, and Firearm Safety. He is also a past first-place finisher at the prestigious National Tactical Invitational. A three-time published autho...

Shorewood, Illinois

Firearms & Ballistics, Safety - Firearms, shooting ranges, gun store systemic safety management systems, Firearm human factors, Gun safety, Shooting range safety, Personal protection, Concealed carry, Shooting range design, Training program design, Firearm training, Shooting club management

President (8 yrs) of the 2500 member, 300 acre Aurora Sportsmens' Club - Did a total turn-around from brink of bankruptcy to one of the top shooting clubs in the country; President/Chief Instructor SAFER USA - trained over 8,000 students; U.S. Army (3 yrs) Vietnam veteran - 1st Infantry Division Medical Corps; Sworn, armed Auxiliary Sheriff's Deputy (20 yrs) Sergeant & Executive Board; NRA Training Counselor certified to teach and to train instructors to teach: Basic Pistol, Shotgun and Rifle; Home Firearm Safety; Personal Protection in the Home; Personal Protection Outside the Home; and Metallic Cartridge & Shotgun Shell Reloading; NRA Range Development & Operations certified; NRA Chief Range Safety Officer; NRA Certified Law Enforcement Instructor; NRA Regional Refuse To Be A Victim Counselor; NRA Distinguished Expert Handgun; Chicago Firearm Certification Instructor (entire duration of the program); Illinois Hunter Safety Master Instructor (5 years) ; State of Illinoi...

Salt Point, New York

Firearms & Ballistics, Security - Justification, Lawful Use of Force, Firearms, Firearms Training, Firearms Training Accidents, Force on Force, Force on Force Training, Force on Force Training Accidents, Negligent Training, Air Soft Training, Air Soft Training Accidents, Security, Negligent Security, Concealed Carry, Deadly Force, Use of Force, Shooting, Firearms

Don Redl – Board Certified Investigator | Use-of-Force & Firearms Expert Don Redl is a Board Certified Investigator and Experienced Firearms & Use-of-Force Expert licensed in New York, North Carolina, Florida, and Wyoming. He brings over 30 years of experience as a New York State DCJS Certified Firearms Instructor (FA), General Topics / Use-of-Force Instructor (GT), Scenario-Based Force-on-Force (Sim) and Active Shooter Response Instructor, as well as Advanced Instructor Development Training in Brain-Based Tactical Training Design (NURO). Don holds the rating of Stock Service Pistol Master from the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and multiple instructor credentials from the National Rifle Association, including: NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, NRA Instructor in Pistol, Personal Protection, and Firearm Safety. He is also a past first-place finisher at the prestigious National Tactical Invitational. A three-time published autho...

Dansville, New York

Accident Reconstruction, Firearms & Ballistics - Ammunition Reloading, Hunter and Bowhunter Safety, Tree Stands, Hunting Accident Investigation, Shooting Accidents, Firearms and Ballistics, Firearms Safety, Shooting Scene Reconstruction, Hunting, Hunting Laws, Archery, Crossbow, Hunting Related Shooting Incidents, Natural Resource Officer Training

With partners in New York and South Carolina, Hunting and Shooting Related Consultants is the leader in hunting incident investigations. Over 50 years of Natural Resource Law Enforcement experience and investigating and documenting hunting accidents. We also served as Directors of the International Hunting Incident Investigation Academy, teaching over 1200 wildlife officers the specific “CSI in the Woods” skills necessary to properly investigate and document these incidents, many of the methods and tools were created by us. Co-authored the book, “ Blood On The Leaves, Real Hunting Accident Investigations - And Lessons In Hunter Safety”. Over 60 years combined experience teaching the Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education classes required in all 50 states. Experienced in using and teaching the safe use of a wide variety of archery equipment, crossbows, handguns, rifles, shotguns, airguns, muzzleloaders and related hunting and shooting equipment such as tree stands and decoys. ...

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Firearms & Ballistics, Police Practices & Procedures - self-defense, gun accidents, hunting accidents, firearms training, shooting scene reconstruction, holsters, shooting ranges, use of force, use of force policy, involuntary muscular contraction, defensive tactics, weapon retention, pepper spray, Taser, impact weapons, knives, edged weapons

Expert witness since 1984 in civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts nationwide. Practicing attorney. Has been certified as firearms instructor by FBI, NRA, several states and other training authorities. Certified instructor in defensive tactics, baton, Taser, weapon retention, less lethal impact munitions, pepper spray. Certified Force Science Analyst, Advanced Specialist in Force Science, Executive Protection Specialist, and in counter-terrorist and defensive driving. Taught "Police Use of Force" as Adjunct Instructor at Indiana University, Department of Criminal Justice. Served as instructor at two police academies. Presenter at national and international conferences of law enforcement instructors. Has trained and certified firearms instructors and armorers for major law enforcement agencies. Armed, sworn reserve deputy sheriff for over 28 years. Member, Board of Directors, International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors ("IALEFI...

Morgan, Utah

Mechanical Engineering, Firearms & Ballistics - Failure Analysis, Intellectual Property, Ammunition Reloading, Manufacturing, Product Liability, Unintentional Discharge, Shooting Reconstruction, Drop Testing, Trigger Pull Testing, Root Causes, Shooting Accident, Inspection, Ballistics, Forensic Analysis, Stress Calculation, Material Properties, Tolerance Analysis, GD&T, Kinematics

Ryan D. Cook has been licensed for over 20 years as a Professional Engineer (PE) in mechanical engineering, with more than 25 years of design and analysis experience. He has designed over 1500 parts, including 5 firearm product families and has been issued 10 patents. He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering at Brigham Young University. Mr. Cook has been designing Browning and Winchester rifles, shotguns, and handguns since 1999, including the Winchester Model 9410 – winner of the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence 2001 Shotgun of the Year award. This work includes concept generation, computer models, stress analyses, material specifications, and manufacturing process selections, which may include plastic or metal injection molding (MIM), machining, stamping, spring winding, additive manufacturing, casting, and powdered metal. His experience also comes from hands-on assembly, testing, diagnosis, and debugging. He analyzes failu...