Leo Subbarao

Leo Subbarao is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Security, Fire and Emergency Management Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York. With over 20 years of service in the New York City Fire Department and extensive industry experience in fire protection engineering, he brings practical expertise to his teaching in fire dynamics, hazardous materials, and fire protection systems.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Madras, India (1973)
• MI (Fire)E Exam from The Institution of Fire Engineers, UK (1991)
• Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, USA (1995)

Subbarao's research focuses on fire and explosion hazards, particularly in the context of hazardous materials transportation and energy storage systems. His work has significantly contributed to understanding vapor flammability in cargo oils and the safety of battery energy storage in tall buildings. He has been instrumental in developing new fire codes for green technologies and energy storage systems.

His scholarly contributions include a notable 1994 research report for the US Coast Guard on Grade E cargo flammability, which investigated explosions on barges carrying Fuel Oil No.6. This work revealed that the oil emitted flammable mixtures of propane, butane, and pentane, leading to regulatory changes.

His awards and honors include:

• James J. Johnston Memorial Medal (2007) for Green Technologies
• James J. Johnston Memorial Medal (2019) for Battery Energy Storage Systems
• Commendation letter from the Fire Commissioner (2001) for explaining the cause of an explosion that killed three first responders

Subbarao has served on numerous fire safety committees including NFPA, UL, and CSA. He is a Fellow of The Institution of Fire Engineers and a Professional Member of SFPE. His industry experience spans 17 years at Mather and Platt (a UK-based fire engineering company) and leadership in establishing the Fire Protection Unit at Larsen and Toubro, a Fortune 500 company.