Licensed Engineer: Firearm Design, Analysis & IP

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Ryan D. Cook has been licensed for over 20 years as a Professional Engineer (PE) in mechanical engineering, with more than 25 years of design and analysis experience. He has designed over 1500 parts, including 5 firearm product families and has been issued 10 patents. He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering at Brigham Young University. Mr. Cook has been designing Browning and Winchester rifles, shotguns, and handguns since 1999, including the Winchester Model 9410 – winner of the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence 2001 Shotgun of the Year award. This work includes concept generation, computer models, stress analyses, material specifications, and manufacturing process selections, which may include plastic or metal injection molding (MIM), machining, stamping, spring winding, additive manufacturing, casting, and powdered metal. His experience also comes from hands-on assembly, testing, diagnosis, and debugging. He analyzes failures to identify the root cause; these activities include Finite Element Analysis (FEA), strain gage testing, calculation spreadsheets, and high-speed video of destructive and non-destructive testing. Mr. Cook reviews intellectual property for potential infringement and prepares disclosure materials for new applications. He has worked on utility and design patents. He also dissects claim coverage, researches prior art, and assists with infringement prosecution. As an expert witness he supports pending litigation by inspecting and documenting failures related to product liability. These analyses may include fractography, metallographic analysis, dimensional conformance, and material characterization. He has also participated in criminal trial proceedings with engineering evaluations and expert report review. He has been qualified in Federal Court to provide expert opinion testimony in the fields of design, testing, history and functions of firearms. Trial testimony included extensive explanation and illustration of technical engineering principles. Mr. Cook has worked since 2016 on the Technical Committee of SAAMI, the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, Inc., and recently concluded serving 5 years as Chair of the Firearms Section of that committee. SAAMI is an accredited standards developer for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The SAAMI Standards are published to provide safety, reliability, and interchangeability standards for commercial manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and their components. Mr. Cook contributes to many of the committee’s working groups, including the recent publication of SAAMI Z299.6-2025 Voluntary Industry Performance Standards Criteria for Firearm Sound Suppressors for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers. In addition to his full-time firearm work, Mr. Cook also consults as Owner and Principal Consulting Engineer of Genesis Design Engineering LLC. This includes concept creation, styling, computer modeling, engineering calculations, prototyping, marketing graphics and intellectual property. Industries served include health care, sporting goods, fitness, petroleum exploration, circuit board enclosures, toys, and household goods. Mr. Cook is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and of ASM International, and a Lifetime Member of the National Rifle Association (NRA). He shoots in SAAMI competitions and has won multiple individual and team awards. He has over 20 years’ experience reloading ammunition. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and achieved Eagle Scout rank with 3 Eagle Palms. Mr. Cook collaborates on-site with manufacturers throughout North America, Europe and Asia. While his PE license is active in Utah, he is available to consult globally for design, analysis, manufacturing, and intellectual property issues, as well as litigation of product liability, personal injury and/or death as an experienced expert witness.