Expert witness and litigation support
Technical analysis and clear explanation of software behavior, process, and failure modes for legal teams.
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Independent software engineering consultant
Software engineering insight for safety critical and mission systems
I work with legal teams, engineering organizations, and academic programs that need clear analysis of complex software systems (particularly real time and mission critical software) and evidence that stands up to scrutiny.
About
Independent perspective on complex software
My work centers on careful examination of software systems and the processes that produce them, with particular emphasis on reliability, timing behavior, and system level risk.
I have spent more than three decades working with mission and safety critical software, including flight and ground systems for aerospace programs. Over that time I have led design and review efforts, guided teams through failure investigations, and helped decision makers understand where software risk really sits in a system.
In my academic role as a Professor of Practice and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in Computer Science, I teach and advise in areas such as real time systems and software engineering. That combination of industrial and academic experience helps me connect theory, standards, and practical constraints in a way that is useful for legal teams, engineering organizations, and educational programs.
I also work with universities and educational organizations on computing education initiatives, including curriculum planning, experiential learning, and study abroad offerings that expose students to real systems and constraints.
I take a straightforward approach to consulting: understand the system, identify the questions that actually matter, and communicate the answers in plain, precise language.
Safety critical and mission software
Real time operating systems
System architecture and interfaces
Independent verification and validation
Standards and best practices
Computing curriculum and study abroad
Services
How I can help
Engagements are tailored to the needs of each matter or project. The services below describe typical ways legal teams, engineering organizations, and academic programs work with me.
Independent technical review
Focused assessments of architecture, design, and implementation for high consequence software systems.
IV&V for critical software
Independent verification and validation support for systems that must meet stringent reliability requirements.
Root cause and incident analysis
Structured review of software related incidents with attention to both technical and process factors.
Process and practices assessment
Evaluation of development and assurance practices against objectives, constraints, and applicable standards.
Technical advisory to leadership
Independent perspective for executives and program managers facing decisions that hinge on software risk.
Educational and study abroad consulting
Support for universities and programs developing computing curricula, experiential learning initiatives, and study abroad offerings tied to real world software and systems.
- • Engagements can be scoped for a single report, focused review, or longer term advisory role.
- • When helpful I work alongside your existing engineering, legal, or academic teams.
For full details on roles, activities, and publications, see my curriculum vitae (PDF).
Experience
Background and focus areas
Aerospace and Mission-Critical Software
Worked as a flight software subject matter expert, including design and review of systems with strict
reliability, timing, and safety constraints.
Academic leadership
Ongoing teaching, curriculum work, and mentoring in areas related to real time and dependable software,
with emphasis on bringing industry experience directly into graduate education and student opportunities.
Typical technical topics
- • Software engineering best practices.
- • Software development and assurance processes for safety critical domains.
- • Real-time, embedded, and mission-critical software systems.
- • Hardware/software interactions.
- • Fault detection, isolation, and recovery strategies in complex systems.
- • Software engineering education and global opportunities.
Working style
I provide written analyses that are technically precise and accessible, with careful sourcing and
clear separation of facts, assumptions, and opinions.
Selected publications (relevant to consulting and expert work)
- • J. S. Fant and R. G. Pettit, “MBSE mission assurance,” in Handbook of Model-Based Systems Engineering, Springer, 2023.
- • J. S. Fant, R. G. Pettit, and D. Gayek, “A quantitative approach for calculating model assurance levels,” in ISORC, 2019.
- • S. C. Meka, S. Achan, and R. G. Pettit IV, “Real-time embedded monitoring technologies in modern healthcare systems: A survey,” in ISORC, 2024.
- • R. G. Pettit and A. D. Pettit, “On the feasibility of automatically detecting and recovering from SEUs in cyber-physical space systems,” in ICSE SE4CPS, 2018.
- • R. G. Pettit, N. Mezzacappo, and J. S. Fant, “On the needs and challenges of model-based engineering for spaceflight software systems,” in ISORC, 2014.
A full list of publications and professional activities is available in my curriculum vitae (PDF).
Contact
Start a conversation
Email is the best way to reach me. A short description of your matter or project and any relevant timelines helps me respond efficiently.
For legal teams, please indicate the type of matter, the parties involved, and whether you are seeking consulting or testifying expert services. I can provide a current CV and additional background on request.
For engineering, organizational, and educational engagements, a brief summary of the system, program, or initiative and your goals for the review is a good starting point. I am happy to sign a mutual nondisclosure agreement as part of the initial discussion.
Location
Northern Virginia, USA
Remote and on site work are both possible depending on the scope and requirements of the engagement.