February 2010 Meeting

February 2, 2010 “Groundhogs Day”

Spouse’s Night and Past Chairman’s Night

Social Hour 5:30 -6:30
Dinner 6:30
Speaker to follow

Speaker: Jon D. Tirpak, FASM -
The H.L. Hunley Submarine: Maritime Archaeology

The H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat on February 17, 1864. The Hunley was also lost that day and successfully recovered from the sea off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, in August of 2000. The H.L. Hunley represents an exciting future in maritime archaeology and conservation science. From its shrouded birth to its climactic sinking to the present day, the H.L. Hunley continues to draw attention from local traditionalists, to national historians, to international scientists all fascinated with various aspects of the submarine such as the crew’s lives and personal artifacts, the war which spawned its development, the innovators that designed and built the vessel, and the conservators charged with stabilizing, preserving and displaying the submarine for generations to come. Ultimately the H.L. Hunley represents 5 significant stages of its history: its design and manufacture, its wartime service which culminated in its loss, its recovery,  its excavation and long term conservation. Overlaying all of these stages are the interpretation of the significance of each and every facet of this history making vessel. This presentation was originally prepared by Mr. Paul Mardikian, the Senior Conservator of leading a teamed effort to preserve the H.L. Hunley. The presentation was made at the Fellows Breakfast 2007 in Detroit. Since then, Mr. Jon Tirpak has been granted permission by Clemson University to share this exciting story with Chapters of ASM International. This presentation will stitch together the past, present and future as he provides highlights to the vessel’s construction, loss, recovery and preservation.

Jon D. Tirpak, ASM Trustee, FASM, is executive director of the Forging Defense Manufacturing Consortium (FDMC). For the past 13 years he has led various collaborative research and development efforts related to casting, forging, microlloying, supply chain management, to cite a few funded programs. Presently he works closely with the US forging industry and the Department of Defense on their respective needs through the FDMC. Jon has 27 years of technical, management and business experience reaching back to his early days as a fledgling metallurgist at the Materials Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio. Stops along Jon’s career also include the Ballistic Missile Office, San Bernardino CA, Appalachian Trail from GE to ME (and not Argentina), Universal Technology Corporation, Dayton OH, Aeroquip Corporation, Ann Arbor MI and the Advanced Technology Institute in Charleston SC. Jon is an active member of ASM International presently completing his third year as Trustee. He chairs the New Products and Services Committee and supports a host of other ASM International Committees and functions. Jon earned his BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Lafayette College and his MS in Materials Engineering from the University of Dayton. He is a licensed engineer in the State of South Carolina where he resides with his wife and three children. Of late his personal interests are the same as his family’s interests.

Meeting Location

Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant
2019 Post Oak Blvd. Houston, Texas 77056

http://www.maggianos.com

Register for Meeting

  • Spouse’s and Past Chairman – Complimentary
  • Pre-registration $35.00
  • At the door $40.00
  • Retirees $10.00
  • Students – Complimentary