Areas of Expertise

• Security Design & Planning
• Security Evaluation & Surveys
• Contingency Plans & Procedures
• Security Systems Integration & Design
• Perimeter Security Counter Measures
• High Security Fencing and Barriers
• Security Safety Programs & Training
• Access Control
• CCTV/Surveillance Television
• Tele/Data Communications & Networking Systems
• Telecommunications, Intercom and Radio Paging
• Audio/Visual/Video
  Communications
• Computer Control Systems
• Console Design & Ergonomics
• Life Safety/Fire Alarm/
  Smoke Detection
• Fire Protection/Fire Suppression
• Gas Fire Protection
• Emergency Egress
• Fire Codes
• High Rise Fire Evacuation
• Fire Safety Planning

Awards

• Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award 2007 from the PA Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) for high-tech security systems at North Branch Correctional Institution super-maximum correctional facility in Maryland

Mr. Forstater founded Professional Systems Engineering, LLC in 1986 focusing on building and campus systems design. Under his leadership, the firm has become nationally known for expertise in design and engineering of complex systems for security, fire protection, life safety, communications, acoustics, and transportation lighting. With more than 30 years experience, Mr. Forstater has directed the firm toward specialization in the integration of varied systems within complex building envelopes. He has considerable experience managing projects for highly specialized facilities including corrections; high-rises; educational campuses; and diverse corporate, manufacturing, and industrial complexes.

A Professional Engineer registered in over a dozen states, Mr. Forstater has provided consulting services to hundreds of companies and institutions throughout the nation. He has provided expert witness testimony related to fire sprinkler head design. Previously, Mr. Forstater worked ten years for a major E/A firm where he served as Director of Special Systems.

His recent counter-terrorism/security mission in Israel with other top-ranking security, justice, military, and counter-terrorism officials provided extensive security briefings for numerous types of building facilities in culturally significant locations. Concentration was focused on secure entry ports in buildings and reductions of progressive collapse to protect structures from both seismic and blast effects.

• BS with Distinction in Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Graduate Studies in Engineering, Drexel University
• Philco Ford Technical Institute
• Additional Professional Studies, XL Design
• Law Enforcement Academy, University of Alabama

• Registered Professional Engineer: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), Professional Engineering Registration.
• National Institute for Certification of Electronic Technicians (NICET) –Fire Protection Engineering Technology/Automatic Sprinkler System Layout, Fire Alarm Systems, and Video Systems Designer and Advanced Video Designer
• Construction Specifications Institue (CSI)
  
• Certified Building Inspection Engineer (CBIE)

• American Correctional Association (ACA)
• American Jail Association (AJA)
• American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS)
• Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
• Delaware Valley Acoustical Society of America (DVASA)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• Engineers Club of Philadelphia
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• Society of Fire Protection Engineers

• 2008 Israel Security and Counter-Terrorism Mission Training Program, sponsor by Shurat HaDin Israel-Law Center. Training program consisted of an intense counter terrorism training review with leaders of Israel’s IDF, Shin Bet, Moussad, ISS, and Air Force.
• 2007 Annual Construction and Maintenance Institute for Criminal Justice Agencies (CMI-CJA) Conference and Technology Exposition, Williamsburg, VA
  Topic: Fence Applications and Detection Technologies
  2007 – invited Co-Speaker
• National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
  10^th National Court Technology Conference, Tampa, Florida
  Topic: Paradigm Shifts in Security
  Fall 2007 – invited Speaker
• Carl Vinson Institute of Government - The University of Georgia
  Topic: Technology in Prison Management
  Summer 2007 – invited Speaker
  
• ASIS International Greater Philadelphia Chapter
  Topic: North Branch Correctional Institution (NBCI)—The Movie
  Spring 2007 – invited Speaker
  
• Construction and Maintenance Institute for Criminal Justice Agencies (CMI), Arizona Department of Corrections, NBCI: The Movie, a presentation on the recent National Geographic Channel MegaStructures Program, Scottsdale, AR, Fall 2006 – invited Speaker
• Justice in the City, Digital Video Surveillance: Technical and Legal Impact, American Institute of Architects (AIA), San Diego, CA, Fall 2005 – invited Co-Speaker with colleague (legal)
• American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Moving from the Information Age to the Security Age: How Enhanced Security Will Change Principles and Practices of Physical Security, Philadelphia, PA, Fall 2002, Panel Member and Session Chair
• National Warden’s and Superintendent’s Conference, Security and Technology, Niagara Falls, NY, Spring 2002 – invited Speaker
• AIA New York City
  American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Justice
  Security in the Civic Realm: Techniques and Tactics
  Justice Security Technology
  Winter 2000
• International Communications Industries Association, INFOCOMM
  Cabling for Multimedia Facilities and Multimedia Integration
  Spring of 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
• American Jail Association
  AJA Training Conference & Expo
  Master Control Centers Integration and Safety and Secure Custody of Juvenile Offenders
  Spring 1998
• American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS)
  Secured Parking Facilities
  Fall 1996
• Construction and Maintenance Institute for Criminal Justice Agencies Connecticut Department of Corrections
  Master Control Rooms
  Fall 1996
• Construction and Maintenance Institute for Criminal Justice Agencies
  Ohio Department of Corrections
  Master Control Rooms
  Fall 1998
• National Institute of Corrections and Massachusetts DOC
  Master Control Rooms
  Spring 1995
• Philadelphia Building Superintendents' Association
  Emergency Power Systems for Life Safety in High Rise Buildings
  Fall 1994
• Society of Fire Protection Engineers
  Satisfactory Alarms for Fire Evacuation (SAFE)
  Winter 1993
• Audio Engineering Society
  Computerized Analysis of Noise Vibration Acoustics and Sound (CANVAS)
  Summer and Fall of 1991
• Harrisburg Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security
  Security in the Future
  Spring 1984

• Faculty professor for International Communications Industries Association since 1996

• Principal-in-Charge for Rikers Island GMDC renovations. Project includes CCTV cameras for coverage of multipurpose rooms, stairs, exits, corridors, cafeteria, evacuation doors, and other identified blind spots. Design includes control centers, touch screen control system, Programmable Logic Control (PLC) with remote l/O, door locking and control, CCTV, digital recording, personal duress system, and perimeter intrusion protection for a multi-stage, 5-10 year renovation. 
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Rikers Island Correctional Facility, a New York Department of Corrections project. Provided perimeter security electronics, perimeter monitoring center, site infrastructure design, and systems evaluation, contract evaluation and systems testing consultant on the $6.8 million renovation for Rikers’ west secure envelope.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Delaware County, PA – Video integration with PLC systems upgrades and commissioning. Served as project lead. Provided reviews of all existing security systems including control systems, video surveillance systems, and intercom paging systems and technical support to the owner on the correction of known deficiencies. Prepared assessment reports including development of a list of recommended security improvement.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Bergen County Improvement Authority to provide security system installation consulting services. The report provides an analysis of the constructed security electronics package and control centers at the Bergen Regional Medical Center D1 Unit, Forensic Floor. The Bergen County Sheriff provides staffing to operate the security systems within the D1 Unit. The D1 Unit consists of 7000 square foot of space and contains facilities for examination, treatment, and visitation for patients.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for security, control, and communications systems for Bergen County Jail, New Jersey. Provided complete redundant PLC network, touch screen computers, and integrated security system for the site and control center.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for $100 million site development and all communication infrastructure, security, perimeter fencing, and life safety for the State of Maryland’s North Branch Correctional Institution that is the subject of a National Geographic special on the extensive technology designed by the firm.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for technologies for $60 million Lexington-Fayette Detention Center, Kentucky. Provided complete universal wiring infrastructure with fiber optics, ATM twisted pair, and redundant source distribution. Project involved 24 video arraignment systems, over 3,000 digital termination outlets, digital PBX, digital video editing/broadcast suite, and full level 3 to high-speed ATM/fiber loop.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Essex County Jail, Newark, New Jersey. Provided design and engineering for the new four-story, one million square foot, $416 million facility, housing 2,200 inmates for perimeter security electronics and fencing, site infrastructure, detention hardware, planning/estimating services, communications master plan, commissioning and close-outs services. Planning and design included life safety analysis of cell listings in compliance with UL/FM, CCTV surveillance, wireless RF duress/panic alarm, biometric access control, and digital video watch tour.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge of systems renovation for Eaton County Jail, Charlotte, MI. Project included replacement of the oldest correctional touch screen control system in an operating facility. Renovations took place during occupancy.
  
  
• Extensive master planning and site analysis for security, locking, electronics, communications, and operations components for a Philadelphia Industrial Institutional Complex facility.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for new life safety systems at the Philadelphia House of Correction, one of the nation’s oldest correctional facilities. Fast-track installation of computerized fire alarm and smoke detection systems.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for engineering documentation of communications and fire alarm systems for a two-tower, 12 story federal corrections facility at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, NY.
  
  
• Account Manager and Principal in Charge for a five-year site development project involving master planning, programmatic development, and construction documentation for 40- acre. Expansion at Maryland House of Correction, Jessup, MD. Provided engineering for security, surveillance, communications, fire protection, and related systems.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center and Juvenile Shelter. Provided consulting and design services for a structured, technically flexible, and future-proof communications infrastructure for the new facility.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Union County Juvenile Detention Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Provided program design services and construction administration including the design of master control center comprised of main touchscreens, server computer system and the headend systems for video surveillance, intercom, and paging system. Including security, intake fencing, and security communications infrastructure consulting, design, and engineering services and designed site-wide card access door monitoring and control system intercom paging.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center, Alameda, CA - provided Commission Authority Services for this new $130 million juvenile justice center. Commission services included reviewing all design documents, commissioning plan schedule development, review of all submittals, construction checklists, observation of starting, and review of all functioning testing. A building security systems final testing plan was implemented. The methodology of the plan was based upon standard operational activities that would be expected within the building to assure security systems would respond as designed.
  
  
• Provided master planning, design, and engineering for fencing, security controls, and communications for Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center, Lima, PA.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for new Niagara Falls Public Safety Facility including police, communications, crime lab, detention, 9-1-1 dispatch for police/fire/EMS, and courts holding security, acoustics, data/tele communications, detention hardware, and full commissioning during construction.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for fast-track design of networks addressable video conferencing and arraignment systems for Philadelphia courts system and police district interconnects. Managed preparation of an RFP completed in less than 30 days.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for complete electronic renovations to courthouse and governmental agency buildings for the County of Delaware, PA. Provided audio, intercom, video, security, card access, parking control, and judges' chamber protection system for 120,000 square foot facility.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Elizabeth City, New Jersey 911 Center. Included designs from “ground-up” for CAD, radio, consoles, recording equipment, video graphic displays, and transmitter equipment.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge and Chief Engineer for security, radio controlled command center, paging, intercom, CCTV for new facility including police headquarters, jail, detective area, and other police enforcement areas, for South Brunswick Township Municipal Building, Monmouth Junction, NJ. Work included design and construction of coordinated radio command and control facility using automated radio integration and state police messaging systems. Also designed police vehicle satellite tracking control and display systems.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for design of security, tele/data, and courtroom technology systems for the Kent County Courthouse Complex, Delaware renovation project. Security will include card access system, CCTV surveillance, optical turnstiles, and wired/wireless duress. Communications design includes tele/data system, CCTV, and video messaging. Courtroom technology design provides video display for each courtroom, evidence presentation systems, video annotation system, court reporting system, courtroom audio recording system, touch screen A/V control system, and a digital matrix audio mixing system.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Lehigh County Courthouse, Pennsylvania - provided services for security, holding/detention control systems, courts security, and allied building security communications and electronic security system upgrades. Authorized specifications, conducted field audits and resolved owner comments and issues.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for complete electronic renovations to courthouse and government agency buildings for Delaware County Courthouse and Government Complex, Pennsylvania. Provided audio, intercom, video, security, card access, parking control, and judges’ chamber protection system for 120,000 sq. ft. facility.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Amtrak Public Safety System Replacement Project. Supported development of needs assessment for replacement of existing Computer Aided Dispatch system and Record Management System. Assisted in the development of the RFP, for nationwide 9-1-1 dispatch and integrated jurisdictional management system, evaluated contractor proposals, and provided project management.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for Philadelphia International Airport project, which includes providing a flexible Emergency Control and Command Center to serve multiple agencies. This includes providing future accommodation for infrastructure and communications to serve the Airport for up to 25 years.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for campus-wide tele/datacom service distribution system master plan for Philadelphia Naval Business Center, site of the former 1,100-acre Philadelphia Naval Base.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for evaluation, analysis, and recommendations as a result of the Primate House fire. Implementation of campus fire detection/alarms, emergency public alarm system using spread spectrum RF communications, pathway and street lighting, and card access/security/digital surveillance systems for Philadelphia Zoological Society, Philadelphia, PA.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for security assessment, security design, high speed connectivity, and wireless broadband including data/telephone/media/video communications. These historic buildings include a Frank Furness Building in a metropolitan setting requiring special security considerations for academics/educational, presentation and collections spaces for Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s new 12 story master program building.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for the prestigious Friends Hospital, Philadelphia provided all engineering of fire alarm, staff duress, and security alarm, smoke detection, nurse call, and intercom systems.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for a $65 million, state-of-the-art, 300,000 square foot facility. Newark Science Park High School, is a new magnet school in cooperation with New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and other institutions. Services included program development, technology, and integration for all data, security, and educational/instructional systems assessments, networks, access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, electrified locks, and badging systems.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for New Jersey School Development Authority (NJSDA) program for the new Roberto Clemente Elementary School for assessment consulting and design of security, communications, and A/V systems.
  
  
• Principal Consultant and Chief Engineer for multiple projects at campuses statewide for Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Security included security assessment, card access, CCTV, and residential access security. Provided 9-Year Uniform Fire Code Retrofit comprising 100+ low- and high-rise buildings statewide. Provided design for campus buildings and systems including security, fire alarms, fire pumps, and sprinklers, emergency lighting, emergency mass evacuation, generators, and switchgear.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for critical infrastructure homeland security projects for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York Power Authority, PATAPSCO, Bell of PA, PEPCO, and many energy producers/ distributors including nuclear, fossil fuel, and hydro-dam clients.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for site surveys, documentation, and programmatic development for computer network security systems for 450 sites located throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania for Bell Atlantic. Met strict budget and technical constraints.
  
  
• Chief Systems Engineer for security, card access, central station and CCTV for PNC Building 98 and all remote sites.
  
  
• Provided engineering and ensured conformance for all security systems for site including card access, CCTV, intrusion, and perimeter detection for McNeil Pharmaceutical, Spring House, PA.