Department of Defense 2009 Conference Attacks Corrosion Challenges

The latest advances in corrosion prevention and control technology were explored in depth at the Department of Defense (DoD) 2009 Corrosion Conference, held August 10-14. It included review of jointly funded Office of the Secretary of Defense and military department projects and new applications of their technologies.

According to Daniel J. Dunmire, Conference Chair and Director, Department of Defense Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight, the 2009 DoD conference was among the most successful yet: "The 2009 DoD Corrosion Conference was an unqualified success with over 600 attendees from the Federal Government, academia, and industry. The purpose of this technical conference is to bring scientists engineers and others with an interest in corrosion together to help further to cause in combating corrosion."

The five-day conference offered 118 presentations and drew more than 600 attendees and over 50 exhibitors to the Gaylord National Hotel in the newly developed Maryland National Harbor south of the Wilson Bridge, in the greater Washington, D.C. area. While 170 of the attendees were from the Greater D.C. area, corrosion professionals traveled from 42 different states and many different countries to participate in the conference.

The U.S. Navy took the lead, continuing a tradition established from the first "Tri-Service" Corrosion Conference. With increased participation from the various services, a change of name from "Tri-Service" to DoD Corrosion was in order. Starting in 2005, the conference's purpose expanded from equipment corrosion prevention research and development to corrosion control in equipment, infrastructure, and policy with participants from the services, defense agencies, Coast Guard, NASA, allied partners, academia, and industrial sectors. This year's attendance was considered the highest since it began in 1967; it has been held every second or third year since. This year's conference offered three parallel tracks on topics of broad interest. Highlights included three different panel discussions offering various perspectives, including the congressional staff and Government Accountability Office panel, the services' Corrosion Prevention and Control Executive panel, and the system's program executive office, program manager, and DoD acquisition policy panel.

Other presentations covered corrosion education, the National Academy of Sciences, and international concerns. In addition, The Air Force Office of Scientific Research conducted concurrent sessions, and the DoD Corrosion Forum met Monday morning and Friday morning. Other events included tours, a golf tournament, and a wide range of corrosion prevention, control, and mitigation exhibits.

A high note, on Wednesday evening, August 12, featured the conference's keynote speaker, U.S. Congressional Representative Betty Sutton (D-Ohio 13th). The Congresswoman offered a detailed appraisal of the Defense Department's fulfillment of the Congressional mandate to create and implement a DoD Corrosion Prevention and Mitigation Program. A strong supporter of the DoD Office of Corrosion Policy & Oversight strategic plan, Congresswoman Sutton also addressed the future of the DoD corrosion program and challenged the DoD to continue addressing the impact of corrosion on troop readiness and safety.

The DoD Conference was organized by the Department of Defense Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight with assistance from NACE International, who wishes to express its appreciation to the DoD Conference Committee, led by Conference Chair Daniel J. Dunmire, Director, Department of Defense Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight, Conference Technical Chair Airan Perez, Conference Technical Vice Chair Richard Hays, and Conference Technical Vice Chair William Needham. They all helped make the 2009 DoD Corrosion Conference memorable.

The DoD and NACE also wish to thank Logis Tech, who sponsored the break on Monday, August 10, and offer a special thank you to all of the exhibitors: