Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 1995
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 1991
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Rice University, 1990
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, California, #32049
  • Professional Engineer, Colorado, #PE-0043557
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Florida, #75868
  • Professional Engineer, Hawaii, #PE-18649
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Louisiana, #PE.0047514
  • Professional Engineer, Maryland, #41622
  • Professional Engineer, North Carolina, #37568
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Nevada, #26620
  • Professional Engineer, Oregon, #96699PE
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Texas, #98012
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Wyoming, #PE 17248
  • Certified Smart Card Industry Professional (CSCIP)
  • GIAC Security Leadership Certification (GSLC)
Professional Honors
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Tau Beta Pi
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship

Dr. Fessler's areas of expertise include building mechanical systems, gas and liquid flows, heat transfer, thermodynamics, manufacturing, and risk assessment. He frequently analyzes temperature, humidity, comfort, indoor air quality, moisture control, equipment failure and other issues related to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial, industrial and residential buildings.   

Dr. Fessler has particular expertise in investigating temperature/humidity control issues related to HVAC systems, including situations where high humidity and/or condensation have led to water damage, fungal growth and/or mold contamination. Dr. Fessler also routinely investigates issues related to gas and liquid plumbing and piping systems, including the causes of leaks in those systems and the resultant leak rates. Typical components and sub-systems studied have included pumps, valves, chillers, fan-coil units, ventilation systems, heat exchangers, compressors, plumbing systems, cooling towers, boilers, heaters and process piping.

Dr. Fessler also has significant experience in risk assessment, including risk and reliability analyses of new products and systems that are under development. Such systems have included consumer appliances, medical devices, hybrid vehicles, large-scale energy storage systems, automotive components, security/anti-terrorism technology, telecommunications equipment, and over a dozen large, international oil and gas refinery/storage facilities. Specific analysis techniques used by Dr. Fessler include Preliminary Hazards Analysis (PHA), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Hazards and Operability (HAZOP) studies, Fault Tree/Event Tree Analysis, Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) evaluations, Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM), and Safety Integrity Level (SIL) studies.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Fessler was an Acting Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Stanford University, where he conducted research and taught graduate and undergraduate classes in experimental heat transfer and fluid mechanics.