Gerald Forstater, PE, CSI
Principal-in-Charge

Areas of Expertise

• Security Evaluation & Surveys
  
  
• Security Design & Planning
  
  
• Contingency Plans & Procedures
  
  
• Crime Exposure & Risk Assessment
  
  
• Personnel Procedures & Training
  
  
• Guard Operations & Protective Services
  
  
• Security Systems Integration & Design
  
  
• Perimeter Security Counter Measures
  
  
• Electronic and Pneumatic Detention Hardware and Controls
  
  
• Parking Garage Security
• Security Safety Programs & Training
• Card Access/Control
• Digital CCTV Surveillance
  
  
• Digital Video Recording
  
  
• Intrusion Detection
  
  
• Hardware Compliance
  
  
• Life Safety/Fire Alarm/Smoke Detection
  
  
• Fire Protection/Fire Suppression
  
  
• Communications and Signaling
  
  
• Telecom, Intercom & Radio Paging
  
  
• Audio/Visual/Video Communications
  
  
• Teleconferencing, Audio & Video
  
  
• Expert Witness in Security, Communications, and Life Safety Litigation Claims
  
  
• Insurance Analysis and Betterment Claims

Experience Summary

Mr. Forstater founded PSE in 1986 focusing on design of advanced systems for security, communications, and fire/life safety. Under his leadership, the firm has become nationally known for its expertise in design and engineering of integrated systems for complex projects in a campus-wide environment, including leading pharmaceutical, telecom, electronics, manufacturing, and commercial clients, as well as for justice and critical infrastructure.

Mr. Forstater has more than 25 years experience providing security consulting to hundreds of companies and institutions throughout the nation. He previously worked for ten years for a major E/A firm where he served as Director of Special Systems providing design on many pharmaceutical and electrical projects.

Mr. Forstater has been a keynote speaker at seminars and conferences throughout the U.S. on technology topics. Mr. Forstater is a registered Professional Engineer in several states.

Education

• B.S., with Distinction in Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1982
  
  
• Graduate Studies in Engineering, Drexel University

Registration

Registered Professional Engineer: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Texas, and California

Key Project Experience

• Provided security assessment, validation, recommendations, network architecture and integration for Sterling Pharmaceuticals (now GlaxoSmithKline) in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
  
  
• Provided security, fire, toxic gas, and safety/evaluation systems design for customized pharmaceutical production plants in Puerto Rico for both McNeil CPC and Key Pharmaceutical.
  
  
• Design consulting for various Johnson & Johnson affiliates including Ortho Pharmaceutical, Ortho Diagnostics, Johnson & Johnson patient services, and others.
  
  
• Engineering and evaluative planning studies for perimeter fencing and electronic detection systems at over 100 sites throughout the U.S. addressing justice and homeland security counter-measures.
  
  
• Chief Systems Engineer for security, card access, central station, and CCTV for PNC Bank Building 98 and all remote sites.
  
  
• 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 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 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 complete infrastructure design for one of the nation’s largest jail complexes ($400 million), Essex County Correctional Facility, New Jersey.
  
  
• Principal-in-Charge for five-year site development involving master planning, programmatic development, and construction documentation for 40-acre expansion at Maryland House of Correction, Jessup, Maryland.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Extensive master planning and site analysis for security, locking, electronics, communications, and operations components for Philadelphia Industrial Institutional Complex facility.
  
  
• Chief Engineer/Project Manager 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/Chief Engineer for security, radio controlled command center, paging, intercom, and CCTV for new facility including police headquarters, jail, detective area, and other police enforcement areas for South Brunswick Township Municipal Building, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey.
  
  
• 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 transportation security and public safety projects in ten cities throughout the U.S. for security, fencing, intrusion detection, access control, and computer aided dispatch of emergency responders – includes national railroad, commuter rail, shipping ports, and airports.
  
  
• 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.

Seminars and Lectures (partial list)

• American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, Committee on Architecture in the Civic Arena, Techniques and Tactics in Justice Security, Winter Conference 2000.
  
  
• American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Secured Parking Facilities, Fall 1996.
  
  
• International Communications Industries Association, INFOCOMM, Cabling for Multi-Media Facilities and Multi-Media Integration, Spring 1996, 1997, 1998, Spring 1999.
  
  
• Construction and Maintenance Institute (CMI) for Criminal Justice Agencies, Connecticut Department of Corrections, Master Control Rooms, Fall 1996.