Born in Vladivostok, Russia, Leo Block began amassing engineering experience in the U.S. Navy, where he attended several technical schools and served in the engineering department of steam- and diesel-powered ships. Following his naval service, Block’s work experience as an engineer was with leading manufacturers of combustion and heat-transfer products. He obtained his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Southern California. A registered professional engineer, he holds a U.S. Coast Guard license for 100-ton vessels, power and sail, and is a retired U.S. Naval Reserve Captain. He has written articles for Yachting, Appliance, and Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News, and is a member of the American Society of Gas Engineers and the Carbon Monoxide Safety and Health Association. His technical writings have been published in technical magazines and engineering society transactions, and he has more than twenty U.S. and foreign patents. He is the author of Diesel Engines: A Boat Owner’s Guide to Operation and Maintenance.