Uncontrolled fire has been viewed as a mystical source even by those who deal with it on a daily basis such as fire fighters and fire investigators. Professor Williamson allowed this inquisitive fire investigator an opportunity to go behind the curtain in Oz. What I learned from the professor was that fire scene analysis, one of the great black arts, was not something akin to crystal balls and levitation, but, in actuality, a complex three-dimensional puzzle — a puzzle ruled by the laws of science including the physical characteristics of materials, heat transfer properties and, occasionally, chemistry; he is a physicist. Professor Williamson has unselfishly led me into the fire science chambers and welcomed me. His artful eye has shaped this research into a presentable dissertation, a task for which I was unprepared.

He is the equivalent of a Marine Corps obstacle course. Each of the required steps and efforts he presented was challenging. At times it seemed excessive, causing one stress and strain to the point of exhaustion, only to feel the exhilaration of completion and establishment of an underlying love and respect for the “Ultimate Drill Sergeant.”

Her approach to the understanding of materials and their systematic dissection brought me from the macro to the micro world. Professor Ostertag encouraged me to pursue the subtle differences hidden within the gypsum X-ray diffraction plots, thus unlocking the most important findings of this research.

P. K. Mehta's compassion for all and his “holistic” approach in examining the life experience of a material has become my mantra. His teachings transcend far beyond the complex but subtle world of concrete. As a Mehta disciple, I will be forever charged with the spirit to help and assist others in designing, placing, curing, and maintaining the “optimal” concrete.

He taught me the “tools of fuel” and gave me the opportunity to be his teaching assistant. His commitment to my future as a student at UCB truly allowed me to bridge the gap from fire investigator to Cal graduate student, a task which proved to be challenging.

Mullah, guide, editor, occasional psychologist — never failing, always vigilant, a God-send for anyone, especially this graduate student.

For her ceaseless efforts to guide me through every fundamental facet of presenting my research as well as her strong shoulder during the course work years. Her attention to detail and boundless understanding of seemingly everything has taught me well.

My running partner. Josh did more than set the pace. We were a team and we were willing to go all out to set the bar as high as we could. Sunday afternoons at his dining room table, we would desperately try to “out-Gerwick” Professor Gerwick and his trusty TA, Jerry. Kardon and Schroeder were the two older guys who always sat together in the front row; my friends, it was not because of our hearing.

I thank Professor Frederick Mowrer and the Fire Protection Engineering Department at the University of Maryland for providing me access and use of their cone calorimeter. I would be amiss in not acknowledging Professor Mowrer’s role in my journey to UCB. During the investigation of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel fire, in the winter of 1981, I learned of the Fire Safety Engineering Interdisciplinary Program at UCB from then-graduate student Mowrer.

Bill has been a key member of the UCB fire testing group since the late 1970s. His insight into the crafting of testing protocol and the execution of experiments was priceless.

I owe thanks to Crane Engineering for access to their low vacuum state of the art SEM, and especially to Jean Schlosser, “Master Control.”

Peggy provided guidance and support to overcome my recurring self-confidence issues — reminding me to take small steps and that few before me had spent so much time in the trenches.

For recognizing that some fire scenes couldn’t be properly analyzed without the involvement of Robert Schroeder. Their commitment to my cause mirrored that of an NSF grant.