ASM’s 2026 Class of Fellows
In 1969, ASM established the Fellow of the Society honor to provide recognition to members for their distinguished contributions to materials science and engineering and to develop a broadly based forum of technical and professional leaders to serve as advisors to the society. ASM will recognize the 2026 Class of Fellows at the ASM Awards Dinner held during IMAT’26, on Tuesday, September 29th in Quebec City, Canada. Tickets can be purchased with IMAT registration.
The following members are recognized by their colleagues for 2026. Additional Fellows may be elected to this distinguished body in subsequent years. The solicited guidance, which the Fellows will provide, will enhance the capability of ASM as a technical community of materials science and engineering in the years ahead.
Mr. Thomas N. Ackerson, FASM
Technical Fellow
Blue Origin, LLC
Merritt Island, FL
“In recognition of expertise in corrosion research, materials testing, and failure analysis.”
Mr. Frank Altmann, FASM
Head of Business Unit Electronic Materials and Components
Fraunhofer IMWS
Halle, Germany
“For outstanding technical contributions in the international failure analysis community.”
Prof. Andrew S.M. Ang, FASM
Co-Director of Space Technology Industry Institute
Swinburne University of Technology
Hawthorn, Australia
“For innovation in thermal spray technologies used in marine and aerospace applications and industry, including development of high entropy thermal sprayed coatings.”
Dr. Corbett Battaile, FASM
Principal Member of Technical Staff
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, NM
“For outstanding contributions to the understanding of microstructure-properties-performance relationships through studies of complex polycrystalline material microstructures, textures, defects, and porosity using advanced crystal plasticity and shock physics simulations.”
Dr. Dominik Britz, FASM
Director
Materials Engineering
Center Saarland
Saarbruecken, Germany
“For pioneering theory, application, and commercialization of Artificial Intelligence in microstructural analysis, advancing surface contrast methods, and fostering a globally connected metallography community.”
Prof. Mathieu Brochu, FASM
Professor
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
“For pioneering research and leadership integrating welding, powder metallurgy, and additive manufacturing, significantly advancing education and practice within industrial and academic communities worldwide.”
Dr. Kester D. Clarke, FASM
Group Leader-MST-8 Structure/Property Relations
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM
“For exceptional contributions to metallurgy and materials science across industry, government, and academia, advancing materials processing, properties–performance relationships, manufacturing science, and mentoring the next-generation workforce.”
Dr. Satish Dixit, FASM
Director of Engineering
Plasma Technology, Inc.
Torrance, CA
“For sustained leadership in the development and commercialization of advanced surface engineering and coating technologies improving performance, efficiency, and durability across aerospace, energy, and industrial systems.”
Prof. Yanfei Gao, FASM
Professor
Materials Science and Engineering
University of Tennessee
Knoxville
“For foundational contributions to small-scale mechanical behavior, material failure at extreme conditions, and solid-state additive manufacturing.”
Dr. Frank E. Goodwin, FASM
Director, Technology & Market Development
International Zinc Association
Durham, NC
“For transformative leadership and original contributions in all zinc application sectors, including galvanized high strength steels for lightweight automobiles and a new generation of high- capability zinc pressure diecast alloys.”
Dr. Douglas Ivey, FASM
Professor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Canada
“For pioneering development and characterization of energy-related materials, and for exceptional teaching and mentorship that has inspired thousands of engineering students.”
Dr. Santosh K. Jha, FASM
Director of Operations
Surmet Corporation
Burlington, MA
“For outstanding technical contributions in the development of advanced optical ceramics for defense and civilian applications, and significant research in the area of aerospace thermal barrier coatings and titanium aluminides.”
Mr. Richard Livengood, FASM
Intel Fellow, Retired
Founder SiFi Consulting
SiFi Consulting LLC
Glen Ellen, CA
“For sustained contributions in silicon debug, circuit- edit technology, ion beam nanomachining, and for leadership in both industry and academia.”
Prof. Sushanta Kumar Panigrahi, FASM
Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras
Chennai, India
“For significant contributions toward development of casting, recycling and forming technologies of light weight alloys.”
Dr. Abhijit Sengupta, FASM
Project Manager
Bechtel Corporation
Fairfax, VA
“For sustained contributions and leadership in the materials science and engineering, manufacturing, and safety of materials used in automotive, batteries, and nuclear energy.”
Dr. Atin Sharma, FASM
Product Owner 5000F Fleet
Siemens Energy (US) Inc.
Orlando, FL
“For pioneering contributions and sustained leadership for the advancement of materials science and thermal spraying technology fields, leading to innovative and impactful industrial and gas turbine applications.”
Mr. Kenneth Paul Smith, FASM
Director, Customer Applications Engineering
Constellium
Chillicothe, OH
“For exemplary contributions in the development and application of advanced aluminum alloys for aerospace and defense.”