Barry Newton is the Chief Executive Officer at WHA. He joined the company in 1989 after spending nine years with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He conducts forensic investigations and consults with private industry and government in the evaluation of pneumatic system/component failures, structural and component fires, fuel gas explosions, and fire risk analysis on industrial and medical oxygen systems. Dr. Newton also teaches the WHA Oxygen Fire Hazards Training courses worldwide. He has managed development of the WHA pressure system capabilities, fuel gas (hydrogen, acetylene, and LP gas) combustion test systems, nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) materials test systems, and oxygen materials/components test capabilities including WHA’s Component/Materials Adiabatic Compression, Autogenous Ignition Temperature (AIT), and Metals Promoted Combustion test systems. Dr. Newton also coordinates testing of materials and components between commercial industry and NASA White Sands Test Facility (NASA WSTF) and is an active member of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee G04 on Flammability and Sensitivity of Materials in Oxygen-Enriched Environments and the NFPA 99, “Health Care Facilities”, Technical Committee for Hyperbaric and Hypobaric Facilities.

Between 1981 and 1989, Dr. Newton was involved in pneumatic system design, failure analysis, and testing while working for NASA WSTF. Prior to joining WHA in 1989, he managed the materials testing, pressure system qualification, and oxygen compatibility special projects performed at NASA WSTF for the Shuttle Orbiter pneumatic systems and ground support equipment. From 1986 to 1989 he also acted as facility manager for the NASA WSTF Materials Test Facility where hazardous flammability, explosion, and compatibility tests for the Johnson Space Center were performed.