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A D V A N C E D
M A T E R I A L S
&
P R O C E S S E S | J A N U A R Y
2 0 1 6
3 9
For the past 19 years, most of his efforts
have been directed at building teams
and consortia to develop solutions for
vexing technical and enterprise prob-
lems through a mix of industrial, aca-
demic, and government research. Most
of his research focuses on metalworking
with links to database development and
IT tools such as the National Forging
Tooling Database (with the University
of Toledo), Simulation of Lean Practices
through Job Shop Lean Modeling (with
The Ohio State University), and Defor-
mation Modeling (with Scientific Form-
ing Technologies Corp.).
SOUTH CAROLINA
Since relocating to the Palmetto
State in 1996, our family has grown and
we are proud of our children. Nicola is a
sophomore at Mercer University, Nata-
sha is a junior at the Academic Magnet
High School of Charleston, and Nathan
is a freshmen at Wando High School.
Charleston is a terrific city and we feel
fortunate to live in a place where others
vacation. For that, we thank SCRA and
appreciate Jon’s hard work as a metal-
lurgical engineer and committed mem-
ber of ASM International, which has
been with us over the decades.
Thank
you for allowing me to share some tales
of my husband and your president.
Should you visit the Lowcountry, we
hope you stop by for a campfire. You
know Jon’s story, and now we would
like to hear yours.
~AM&P
Jon thru-hiked the 2137-mile Appalachian Trail in 1988.
as an executive officer within an Air
Force sponsored think tank called Proj-
ect Forecast II. This was an eye-opening
experience, which explored far reach-
ing technologies and systems aimed at
maintaining U.S. dominance of air and
space. Jon also completed his master’s
degree in materials engineering during
this time.
Springboarding to Norton AFB and
the Ballistic Missile Office (BMO) was
eye opening as well. The military was
surfing on the Reagan Buildup, the So-
viet Union had to go, and the U.S. was
upping the ante through a massive
weapons systems initiative. Jon’s pri-
mary assignment was to integrate all
Air Force nuclear testing requirements,
which he did. Sometime during that
brief period, split between the BMO in
San Bernardino, Calif., and the Nevada
Test Site near Las Vegas, Jon realized he
needed to switch paths, separate from
the Air Force, and pursue his dream of
thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.
METALLURGIST GONE WILD
Hiking the Trail is one of the most
significant events in Jon’s life. In 1988,
he completed the 2137-mile journey
atop the Appalachians from Georgia
to Maine. Since first meeting Jon after
his thru-hike, the frequency and inten-
sity—and perhaps accuracy—of his trail
hiking tales has diminished, although
each year given any day between April
and October, Jon can recollect within
20 miles or two days where he was on
the trail. The kids and I like to tease him
about his adventures, which are often
prefaced by the phrase, “Back in ’88
when…” Nonetheless, Jon’s AT expe-
rience was a significant event further
framing his perspectives on life.
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL
PART II
Upon returning from his “sabbat-
ical,” Jon resumed participation in the
Dayton Chapter while working at Uni-
versal Technology Corp. (UTC). Chapter
Chair David Lewis from Armco Steel wel-
comed himback to ASM. Soon thereafter,
Greg Barthold recruited Jon for the Fed-
eral Affairs Committee and he was thrust
into the realm of ASM International on
the national level. It was during this sec-
ond tour in Dayton when Jon and I met
at a National Cash Register (NCR) party.
SEASONED PROFESSIONAL
While at UTC, a small business in
Dayton, Ohio, Jon evolved into a sea-
soned professional working on Air Force
contracts. Many of these involved ad-
vanced aerospace materials and man-
ufacturing technology. When the Cold
War ended and the business changed,
Jon accepted a position in Ann Arbor,
Mich., to lead Aeroquip Corp.’s near-net
shape manufacturing and business de-
velopment. During that move, I left NCR
and joined Chelsea Milling Co., ultimate-
ly marrying Jon and starting our family.
The Tirpaks enjoy many outdoor activities
including ziplining.