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Fire Research Division Leadership
Dr. Matthew Hoehler, Chief
Dr. Matthew Hoehler serves as the Chief of the Fire Research Division, bringing over 25 years of experience in leading both fundamental and applied research for private and public organizations across the United States and Europe. His technical expertise centers on the testing and analysis of materials, components, and structural performance under conditions of structural collapse, natural disasters, and human-induced events.
Dr. Anthony D. Putorti, Deputy Chief & Group Leader
Dr. Anthony D. Putorti is the Deputy Chief of the Fire Research Division and Group Leader for the Fire Fighting Technology Group. He's a Fire Protection Engineer with extensive experience in high energy arc fault experiments, fire investigations, and vehicle fires.
Dr. Amy Mensch, Group Leader
Dr. Amy Mensch is the Group Leader of and a mechanical engineer in the Engineered Fire Safety Group. She joined NIST in 2015 after earning her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Penn State University, having previously worked in the division from 2009–2011 investigating the thermal performance of respirator facepieces. Her research focuses on soot deposition, fire and smoke detection, kitchen cooktop fire prevention, and ember ignition.
Dr. Rick D. Davis, Group Leader
Dr. Rick D. Davis is the Group Leader of and a materials research engineer in the Flammability Reduction Group. Dr. Davis addresses the measurement science needs of the polymer nanocomposite community by developing and utilizing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, and Dielectric spectroscopy to quantify nanoparticle concentration, dispersion, and distribution in polymer matrices.
Dr. Matthew F. Bundy, NFRL Director
Dr. Matthew F. Bundy is the Director of and a supervisory mechanical engineer in the National Fire Research Laboratory (NFRL). Dr. Bundy joined NIST in 1999 as a NRC/NIST Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Fire Research Division and studied suppression of low strain rate laminar diffusion flames in microgravity.
Mr. Chris Clavin, Group Leader
Christopher T. Clavin is the Group Leader for the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Group. Mr. Clavin joined NIST in 2019 and has played a key role in advancing resilience standards and policy, including leadership in developing ASTM E3350. From 2022–2024, he served at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as a Senior Policy Advisor, where he led efforts on infrastructure resilience and natural hazard risk in federal programs. Prior to NIST, he worked at the Institute for Defense Analyses’ Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI). He holds BS and MS degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering.