Roch Shipley has been a dedicated member of ASM International for almost five decades. Here, he reflects on his career and his society involvement over the years.
I remember years ago when I was a student at Illinois Tech, my advisor, Prof. Norm Breyer, was asked a question about ASM. He responded simply, “It’s my society.” So, it is with me. ASM was also my father’s society—I have in my office a Silver Certificate for 25 years of membership awarded to Earl H. Shipley in January 1965.
During my career, I was a member of my local ASM Chicago Chapter and, for a time, the Cleveland Chapter. Students in my Metallurgical Engineering Department at Illinois Tech became joint student members of ASM International and The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS). My first involvement in the higher levels of ASM was with Leadership Days and later, in Chapter Council. One of the realizations I came to there was that volunteers actually receive more than they give. That certainly has proven true with me.
My most recent ASM activity has been serving as volume co-editor of ASM Handbook, Volume 11: Failure Analysis and Prevention and ASM Handbook, Volume 11A, Analysis and Prevention of Component and Equipment Failures, which resulted from an expansion of the 2002 edition of Volume 11. This was a great honor indeed, and certainly a part of my personal legacy, given that the life cycle of an ASM Handbook volume is 20 years or more.
Materials engineers are typically involved in failure analysis investigations, as there are often questions regarding the performance of the materials. ASM has been publishing handbooks on failure analysis since 1975, so I feel privileged to play a part in continuing that tradition. The Failure Analysis Handbooks reflect the contributions of the many members of the ASM Failure Analysis Society, previously the Failure Analysis Committee. I have been a member for almost 30 years. We present a full program at the annual meeting as well as publish the Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention six times per year. I also serve as an associate editor of the Journal.
We hear a lot these days about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. ASM was one of the first to recognize the need, beginning the first ASM Materials Camp ® over 20 years ago. The key concept is that students will be more interested in technical subjects if they are involved in hands-on, interesting laboratory projects, i.e., projects involving practical materials applications. We do not expect everyone to choose an engineering career, but we do know that whatever their path, students will benefit from the knowledge gained. I hosted local Materials Camps and then served on the Board of the ASM Materials Education Foundation.
My ASM involvement has proven most personally rewarding and satisfying. My career path has taken twists and turns through several companies, most recently as a Principal Engineer at Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc., an independent technical consulting company. But the constant throughout has been my ASM International membership and participation.
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