John Tatom
Mr. John Tatom is the manager of the APT Explosives Safety and Testing Division. In this role, he manages full-scale testing for government and industry, including hazard classification. This work involves test planning, execution, data recovery, and report development. Additionally, he leads APT’s support of the RBESCT, which has developed and released SAFER (Safety Assessment for Explosives Risk). He also manages the development of IMESAFR, and has served as the scientific algorithm coordinator since the beginning of the project in 2005. He also serves on the DDESB Science Panel, supports the NATO Allied Ammunition Storage and Transportation Protocol (AASTP) Working Group, and the Klotz Group (an international debris modeling organization). His prior software development efforts include HEXDAM (High Explosive Damage Assessment Model), and VASDIP (Vulnerability Assessment of Structurally Damaging Impulses and Pressures). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University.
William P. Yutmeyer
Mr. William P. Yutmeyer is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. He also achieved a Master of Engineering Degree from Texas A&M in Industrial Engineering. Mr. Yutmeyer worked in Explosive Safety for the Army for 25 years. During that time he was the Army’s Hazard Classifier for 15 years. He was also a Department of Transportation (DOT) delegated signature authority on interim hazard classifications. Mr. Yutmeyer during his work within the Army was a member of many hazard classification committees and panels to include The DoD Tri-Service Hazard Classification Panel. After retiring from federal service he joined A-P-T Research, Inc. and has continued to support the Military Services with hazard classification support.
Lon Santis
Mr. Lon Santis has a B.S. and M.S. in Mining Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He worked a short time as a sales representative for the Ensign-Bickford Co. and then spent 12 years as a Principal Investigator and Supervisor in the Explosives Research Group of the US Bureau of Mines/NIOSH in Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Santis supervised and performed hazard classification tests at the USBM. Then he worked 15 years as the Manager of Technical Services for the Institute of Makers of Explosives in Washington, DC. From 2013 -2018 he worked as an explosives safety and security consultant, explosives safety engineer for APT Research, and Operations Manager for the Vibra-Tech Engineers’ Frederick, MD office. He became an approved DOT explosives Hazard Classifier for APT in 2018. Currently, Lon is the explosives safety expert in the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s Technical Support Directorate. Lon was the chair of the NFPA Technical Committee on Explosives, chair of the ANSI A10.7 standard on explosives use in construction, a Director of the International Society of Explosives Engineers and is still involved in various capacities in many other industry groups. He is also certified to fly small unmanned aircraft by the FAA.
