Mr. Chhatre is an independent consultant and Subject Matter Expert with extensive experience in accident investigation, pipeline safety, and metallurgical engineering. Following his retirement from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), he began his consulting practice, where he strategically supports clients in preventing, managing, and remediating leaks and ruptures, and assists in their accident investigations. He advises on the review of operating procedures and employee training, helps clients identify gaps in regulatory compliance, and provides guidance during state and federal audits. He also offers expert testimony in technical matters during claims litigation.
During his 20 years with the NTSB, Mr. Chhatre led and supported numerous high-profile natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline accident investigations across the country. He served as Investigator-in-Charge on several major cases, including the PG&E natural gas transmission pipeline rupture in San Bruno, California. His expertise in pipeline failure investigation and root-cause analysis has been widely recognized, whether conducting forensic excavations, reviewing integrity management programs, or leading accident interviews. He has testified as an expert witness in U.S. criminal trials and has delivered invited talks and keynote presentations at national and international conferences.
Prior to his federal service, Mr. Chhatre spent nearly two decades as a corrosion engineer at a major utility, where he investigated failures from gas transmission and distribution pipelines, nuclear, fossil, and geothermal power plants, as well as electric systems. In that role, he developed corrosion mitigation techniques, conducted claims investigations, and served as an expert witness for the company’s law department.
Mr. Chhatre holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and advanced training in materials science. He is a registered Professional Corrosion Engineer in the State of California and an active member of NACE.
