Meet Our Experts
Our team brings decades of experience across metallurgy, materials science, mechanical engineering, construction defect analysis, and forensic investigation.
Sam Dastmalchi, M.S., P.E.
Metallurgical Engineer & Failure Analyst
With over 40 years in metallurgy, materials science, and forensic engineering, Sam brings unmatched depth to every investigation. A Registered Professional Metallurgical Engineer in California, he specializes in construction defects, corrosion failures, product liability, and fire system incidents. His work spans destructive and non‑destructive testing, microscopic and spectroscopic analysis, and expert testimony in complex legal cases.
Credentials: Registered Professional Metallurgical Engineer (CA). Degrees in Materials Engineering and Physical Metallurgy.
Forensic focus: Failure analysis, technical reporting, and expert testimony for depositions, trials, and mediations.
Expertise: Construction defects, corrosion-related failures (SCC, pitting, galvanic), product failures/liability, personal injury, water loss, fire system failures.
Methods & tools: NDE (penetrant, radiography, mag particle, eddy current, ultrasonic), microscopy (stereo, metallurgical, SEM/EDS), material characterization (OES, FTIR), mechanical testing (hardness, tensile, fatigue, fracture toughness, impact), corrosion testing (stress, pitting, galvanic, compatibility).
Industry experience: Aerospace; welding/brazing process development; MRB and root-cause analysis.
Professional: ASM International member since 1985.
Mac Dastmalchi
Forensic Engineering Associate
Mac Dastmalchi is a second‑generation forensic engineering professional with a multidisciplinary background in mechanical engineering, materials analysis, and modern software development. He has supported forensic investigations for more than 15 years, contributing to evidence collection, microscopy, CAD modeling, and failure analysis across a wide range of product evaluations.
Mac’s experience in forensic engineering began early, shadowing his father on investigations throughout his adolescence. Since 2018, he has taken on direct case responsibilities, including evidence handling, laboratory testing, optical and digital microscopy, SEM/EDS analysis, pressure and leak testing, and CAD‑based reverse engineering for stress and failure evaluation.
He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from San Francisco State University and has worked across multiple engineering disciplines. His background includes software engineering at Northrop Grumman—where he contributed to major internal development efforts, led scrum operations, mentored interns, and supported a multi‑billion‑dollar procurement audit—as well as technical supervision at Impact General, where he reviewed expert reports, managed high‑volume client accounts, and assembled specialized testing equipment.
At FC Forensics, Mac integrates his hybrid skill set to support complex failure analyses. He is proficient in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA, MATLAB, Simulink, ANSYS, and multiple laboratory instruments including SEM/EDS, FTIR, DSC, XRF, and hydrostatic testing systems. His programming experience—spanning JavaScript, TypeScript, Svelte, Python, C++, and Linux—enables him to streamline workflows and bridge traditional forensic methods with modern engineering tools.
This combination of hands‑on forensic experience, mechanical engineering training, and software fluency allows him to contribute precise, technically grounded work to every investigation.