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NDT with Pride and Integrity: Lessons from a 1976 ASNT President


In 1976, Charles J. Hellier stood before the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) and delivered a speech that still resonates nearly 50 years later. Titled “NDT – With Pride and Integrity,” his address was not just a reflection of the state of the field — it was a warning, a challenge, and a call to action.


Today, as nondestructive testing (NDT) continues to evolve with AI, automation, and advanced signal modeling, Hellier’s message remains remarkably relevant. It reminds us that technical excellence without ethical accountability is not just hollow — it’s dangerous.


🧭 Then and Now: The Ethics Crisis in NDT

Hellier delivered his address during a period of increasing public distrust. High-profile NDT-related scandals — from falsified pipeline reports to poor documentation in nuclear projects — had made national headlines. The profession, once dismissed as a production bottleneck, was finally gaining recognition — but that progress was at risk of being undone by a handful of bad actors.


He didn’t pull punches. Citing examples like an ultrasonic inspector who falsified test records due to color blindness (and ended up in federal court), Hellier highlighted the legal and ethical vulnerabilities in the system. His core message:

“What are the consequences of dishonesty? Disastrous — to the NDT profession as a whole, to the general public whom we protect, and to us as individuals.”

Sound familiar?

Even today, many in our field are asked to “look the other way,” “sign off anyway,” or “just do what the client wants.” Hellier saw that coming. He warned of rising malpractice suits and the looming threat of government regulation if the profession failed to hold itself accountable.


🎓 Hellier’s Challenges to ASNT (Still Relevant Today)

Rather than merely criticizing, Hellier issued direct challenges to the ASNT community:

  1. Speak up about dishonesty — “Now is not the time when silence is golden.”

  2. Improve training standards and aggressively implement the Level III Certification Program.

  3. Educate management and educators about what NDT really is — and why it matters.

  4. Establish national standards for the content and quality of NDT training programs.


Many of us are still fighting these same battles. Whether you’re a Level III trying to correct misunderstandings at a power plant or an instructor teaching students the fundamentals, you are carrying forward the legacy of this call to integrity.


🙌 Why This Matters More Than Ever

If you've followed our content at eddycurrent.com, you know that we’re passionate about more than signal interpretation and calibration curves. We care deeply about the human side of NDT — how analysts are trained, how managers perceive risk, and how truth is communicated in the field.


Hellier’s speech fits perfectly with that mission. It validates everything we stand for:

  • That NDT professionals are not button-pushers, but stewards of safety.

  • That education, not shortcuts, is the path to reliable inspections.

  • And that pride and integrity are just as essential as lift-off compensation and coil configuration.


📣 Final Thought: Don’t Just Read History — Make It

Let’s not allow Hellier’s message to fade into the archives. Let’s bring it forward and live it out:

  • Speak up when something isn’t right.

  • Raise the bar for your team.

  • Educate the next generation.

  • And take pride in what we do — because the work matters, and so do the people it protects.


👉 Want more historical insights, training content, and practical tools for today’s ECT professional?Visit eddycurrent.com — the only site dedicated 100% to all things eddy current testing.



 
 
 

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