What is the difference between experience vs expertise? Are you an Expert?

CPT (Join to see) Anyone can have experience, but if you are content to do the same thing year after year, then all you have is experience. On the other hand, if you are constantly learning and expanding the boundaries of your job, you gain expertise. I had expertise in multiple fields during a 33 year Space Shuttle career due to dedication and commitment. During my career, I held brown bag lunch discussions where I taught co-workers about money management and investing. I was highly skilled but not in the expert category.

Spending a month on a skill, that gives you experience. Spending a lifetime on a skill, perfecting that skill, that is what gives you the expertise. That's how I see it, at least.

In a court room it works like this. The jury leaves. The Prosecutor, Defense and Judge ask you questions, if you know more about the question at hand, you are dubbed "An expert". The jury is called back in and the questioning of you begins. The questioning has to be very specific and pointed towards one question or point. You can give an "Opinion", normally not allowed. In another context, you may be the "go to" who understand a topic more or better than anyone else, or you can explain it better than anyone can, or you can write it in a policy that even attorneys can understand and not find a way around it. Maybe it's due to training, education, experience... or all three. One of my experiences with this was this question: Can a 9mm, fired from a handgun, hit a door and "blow" it open without any other factors involved? More context: His footprints (Boot prints) were also on the door. The round didn't hit anything but the core of the door, not a bolt, not a latch, or lock. He claimed the door just, "Opened", all on its own, when he fired a round at the door (A crime(s) unto itself that he just admitted to in open court). Your standard American home door? I was dubbed a "Ballistics" expert. An "Ex" is a has been and a "pert" is a drip under pressure. Signed: Use of Force, SME for many years. Advanced Firearms Instructor for many decades. Involved in 279 use's of force, never lost a case in court, including State Court of Appeals. I had been called in on many UOF incidents to give my "Opinion", reviews, court, investigations, videos, lawsuits, etc. I was NEVER considered a "Ballistics" SME kinda guy or "Ex-pert" on Ballistics,... before or since. So...... it is a very complex question and can mean very different things to different people, situations, or questions. I agree, just because you were in a "Combat" area of operation does not make one an "Expert" in any particular example... OR it could... Particulars are important to the question.