OUR PEOPLE
Academic Credentials
- B.S., Physics, Arizona State University, 2013
- M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2015
- Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2020
Licenses & Certifications
- Professional Engineer Metallurgical, California, #2059
- Professional Engineer Metallurgical, Arizona, #86098
- NACE - Certified Coating Inspector Level 1 Certification
- NACE - Certified Coating Inspector Level 2 Certification
- NACE - Certified Coating Inspector Level 3 Certification
Professional Honors
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellow, 2013-2016
- 2025 Cosmetic Victories Academic Prize Finalist
Professional Affiliations
- Association for Materials Protection and Performance – AMPP
- Voting member – AMPP Standards Committee 23 – Coating System Application, Maintenance, and Inspection
Dr. Bennett-Kennett specializes in failure analysis and failure prevention of complex engineering structures and devices. He has specific expertise in the areas of metallurgy, materials science, adhesion science, and corrosion.
Recognized as a leader in the coatings inspection field by holding the highest level of AMPP certification for coatings inspection, he regularly conducts analyses of various protective coating systems used in both industrial settings and consumer goods including, but not limited to, tank liners for chemical and water storage, building facades, structural steel fireproofing and anti-corrosion coatings, galvanizing and galvalume, and coil-coated products such as garage doors and metal roofing. He has specific expertise in inspection and evaluation of the effectiveness of various surface preparation methods, including abrasive blasting, hydroblasting, pickling, scarification, and others. He has directed and conducted proactive product development work as well as reactive failure analysis and litigation work, including preparation of expert reports, support of international arbitrations and adjudications, and root cause analyses.
He also has an extensive background in fracture mechanics, corrosion, and adhesion science with experience investigating fatigue, overload, stress corrosion cracking, and delamination in systems including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, ceramics, wood, and polymers. He has expertise in a variety of materials characterization techniques including mechanical testing, optical and electron microscopy, EDS, and FTIR.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Bennett-Kennett completed his Ph.D. at Stanford University in the department of Materials Science and Engineering, where his research focused on relating stresses in thin film systems to properties and performance of those systems. To facilitate this research, Dr. Bennett-Kennett designed and fabricated a thin film stress measurement system for real-time tracking of biaxial stresses in films exposed to a harsh external environment. Dr. Bennett-Kennett leveraged these new systems and his multidisciplinary expertise to study mechanical stresses of energy materials in-situ and to create new collaborative partnerships with Stanford Medicine, consumer product companies, and the Department of Energy.