Michael Baker serves as the Department Manager of the Concrete Materials Laboratory and has nearly a decade of experience in concrete petrographic studies at RJ Lee Group. In addition to managing the concrete materials laboratory operations, he directs and conducts petrographic evaluations, in combination with chemical and physical testing, to identify failure and distress mechanisms in concrete and cementitious materials.

Mr. Baker is experienced in the application of Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) to conduct a broad range of evaluations. His expertise is in failure analysis and forensic investigations of concrete and cementitious materials in which he has evaluated concrete from structures including roadways, bridge elements, parking garages, building foundations, airfield pavements, marine wharfs, and swimming pools among other building applications. His experience includes but is not limited to evaluating the cause of cracking, scaling, and spalling of concrete; delamination and de bonding of concrete and stucco; damage from freezing and thawing, as well as coating system failures and cementitious product evaluation. Mr. Baker is also well-versed in the condition assessment of asbestos cement pipe (ACP) used in water distribution systems, as well as the application of SEM for forensic investigations of particulate.

Michael is a graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geoscience. He is a registered member of the Society of Concrete Petrographers and the American Concrete Institute (ACI). He carries numerous certifications, including 49 Code of Federal Regulations  and ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade 1.