The 2026 Welding Summit brings together leading experts from across the welding, fabrication, inspection, quality, and NDT communities to share insights that drive innovation and elevate professional practice. Designed with engagement in mind, each session encourages open discussion, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and interact directly with industry thought leaders.
Details regarding speakers and session topics for the 2026 Welding Summit are currently being finalized. Our team is actively curating a robust program featuring respected industry professionals who will explore emerging technologies, evolving standards, and proven best practices shaping the future of welding and inspection.
Stay tuned for more details, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Dwayne Mattox has grown up in welding and has used it to visit some of the most amazing parts of the world. He has been welding all his life with a brief exception to fulfill his childhood dream of being an Airborne Ranger in the U.S Army. Dwayne has welded in foreign countries, under water, and on anything from cars to rocket engines. He has tried his hand at a couple of TV roles, he blacksmiths as a hobby, and is currently a Field Application Engineer for Miller Electric.
A career in welding can open doors to extraordinary opportunities—and Dwayne Mattox has walked through many of them. His journey has included military service, international travel, underwater welding, aerospace projects, television appearances, and a lifelong passion for the skilled trades. In this keynote, Dwayne shares the experiences that have defined his career and the enduring lessons they've taught him about resilience, curiosity, craftsmanship, and embracing new challenges. His story is a reminder that welding isn't just about joining metal—it's about building character, creating opportunities, and forging a meaningful life..
Patrick was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His father was in the Army and mother was a German citizen. He graduated High School in Hohenfels, Germany, in 2008 and enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 17, 2009, where he graduated Boot Camp and became an infantry Marine. He served from Nov 2009–Nov 2011 on the Silent Drill Platoon in Washington, DC. He was ordered to go to 3rd LAR (Light Armored Reconnaissance) in 29 Palms, California and later deployed to Helmand Provence in Afghanistan in 2012 where he was injured. In November 2014 he was medically discharged from the Marine Corps.
Patrick moved to Yuma, Arizona where he attended Arizona Western College, earning two A.A.S. degrees in automotive technologies. He became an A.S.E. certified mechanic in December 2017 and then transferred to Northern Arizona University where he earned a B.A.S. in industrial technologies in May 2021. He later returned to Arizona Western College to earn another A.A.S, this time in welding, studying D 1.1 structural welding for SMAW and FCAW and SMAW open root. He is currently one of two automation specialists for Airgas North Central region. He has been an AWS member since 2019.
Life rarely follows the path we expect. In this heartfelt keynote, the speaker shares his remarkable journey from a rebellious teenager to a U.S. Marine, and how the discipline of military service laid the foundation for overcoming adversity. After sustaining long-term injuries, he faced the difficult reality of redefining his future and discovering new purpose.
What began as occasional welding while working as a mechanic evolved into a passion that provided both purpose and therapy. That passion led to earning an associate degree and ultimately a career as an Automation Specialist with Airgas. Attendees will leave with a renewed appreciation for the power of resilience, the importance of building meaningful connections, and the value of stepping outside their comfort zones to create new possibilities—both professionally and personally.
Mr. Henry is a metallurgical/welding engineer who has worked in the Power industry for more than 45 years. He served on a number of key technical and administrative committees of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. He was the chairman of Standards Committee II and Special SCII Working Group on Creep Strength Enhanced Ferritic Steels, and is a member of Standards Committee I and the Technical Oversight Management Committee.
His primary experience has been in failure analysis, condition assessment and characterization of creep damage in power-generating equipment. In addition, he has extensive experience and expertise in the fields of welding engineering and weld repair. He has published over 50 technical papers related to materials and welding issues and has prepared thousands of failure-analysis and R&D reports. His recent activities have focused on:
In the Pressure Codes it is well established that the design engineer can assume that for welds the strength of the weld metal will be equal to or greater than the strength of the base metal. This works well for welds in pressure parts operating in the so-called Time Independent regime. For pressure parts operating in the Time Dependent regime, where creep is likely to be a governing factor in the life of the pressure part, that design assumption is untenable. The implications of this for the design and repair of welds in pressure parts operating at elevated temperatures will be discussed.
Chip Eskridge, PE, CWI is the current Chairman of ASME B31.3 (Process Piping Committee - 2020-2029) and Chairman of AWS B5.31 (Certified Owner’s Inspector Committee). He recently termed out as the ASME B31 Main Committee Chairman (2019-2025), which under his leadership organized the first B31 committee meeting outside North America (Amsterdam 2025). He is licensed as a Professional Engineer (Mechanical and Metallurgical) in 18 states and holds a current API 510, 570, 653 Inspection Certification. He is a member of the ASME Board of Pressure Technology – Codes and Standards and is involved with strategic planning activities with ASME/AWS. He was a 3-term Governor appointee to the Kentucky Boiler Board as the welding/metallurgy representative.
Owner-side inspection accountability is explicitly required by the ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping, yet the qualifications and duties of that role have never been formally standardized across the industry. This session examines how owner responsibility is addressed within the B31 codes, where inspection accountability can break down during project execution, and what that gap costs in practice. Attendees will receive one of the first public introductions to the American Welding Society's ASME B31 Certified Piping Owner's Inspector (COI) certification program, including a discussion of practical questions such as whether a fabricator can perform Owner's Inspector activities when contracted directly by the owner.
Michael Lang is the Quality Director for Bilfinger North America, and an industry recognized Senior Fellow in Self Perform Construction and Welding.
He provides comprehensive quality support across all business lines serving the home offices, projects, and fabrication facilities. His background as a Senior Manager/ Superintendent, Educator, AWS/CWI/CWE, and 38+ years United Association Pipefitter/Welder gives him solid ground-up experience. His advice and implementation of more efficient quality processes have consistently delivered increased safety, quality, and value. He also has over 30 years of industry standards committee involvement with AWS D10 (Chairman), D18, and the AWS Technical Activities Committee (TAC). He is also involved with The Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) as a task group leader developing a position paper on subcontractor quality control for welding, active in the ASME BPVC Committee Section III, VIII, and IX, and a member of the API 582 Committee on Welding Guidelines for the Chemical, Oil, and Gas Industries. He is a recognized Senior Fellow in the Industry, frequent speaker and published on several occasions on topics from these committees and a principal or contributing author to many industry publications.
A practical, functional overview of the ASME B31.3 Process Piping Code, focusing on how it applies to piping and welding. The presentation addresses common myths and misconceptions, clarifying what the code does–and does not–require. The objective is to provide a clear understanding of the code’s intent, scope, and practical application.
Since graduation from The Ohio State University in Welding Engineering, Mr. Holdren has spent his professional career directly involved in the application of welding engineering and nondestructive examination technologies for a variety of industries. He is most comfortable and competent in the solution of real-world problems as they relate to the manufacture or repair of process equipment or other types of critical components. His technical knowledge provides him with the tools to specify the joining and inspection requirements, and his experience allows him the ability to deal with both management and skilled trades personnel to assure that the prescribed techniques are applied correctly.
Working primarily in a consulting role, Mr. Holdren has had opportunities to work in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, defense, pressure vessels and piping, structural steel, shipbuilding, and construction equipment. In addition, this experience has involved activities related to design, materials, welding processes, robotics, codes and standards, inspection, failure analysis, and training in many of these areas.
Much of this experience has been related to the interpretation and application of various domestic and international welding standards. Included in the list organizations responsible for these standards are API, ASME, AWS, ISO, MIL, and NACE. Mr. Holdren has been a contributor on a variety of technical and certification committees for nearly 50 years.
Postweld heat treatment (PWHT) is commonly used for welded components, primarily for reduction of residual stresses when welding thicker sections. For components to be subjected to exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) environments (sour service), welding procedures are qualified with PWHT. In many cases, the welds that are applied to the surfaces of these components, either for corrosion- or abrasion-resistance, or for buildup of sections degraded in service.
To qualify wildling procedures for these applications, in addition to meeting ASME Section IX, these procedures must also meet the requirements of various API standards as well as NACE MR0175. For these applications, the procedure is qualified using a short and long PWHT. This allows for subsequent repair cycles.
A study of the applicable standards has revealed that there are many cases where excessive PWHT is being performed. In some cases, it may be possible to even eliminate PWHT altogether. This paper will present a case for elimination, or at least reduction, in the amount of PWHT required.
The 2025 Edition of AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code – Steel incorporates numerous revisions affecting users. Changes include revisions to prequalified welding procedure specifications, including new requirements for GMAW with parallel electrodes. Changes were made to the visual inspection acceptance criteria for tubular structures, specifically pertaining to undercut and porosity requirements, to address these discontinuities for weld lengths greater than 1 in. and less than 12 in. NDE personnel requirements have been revised to call out an employer’s written practice for qualification and certification, and allowing other international certifications. Welding procedure and performance qualification rules, especially relating to welding positions, have been combined and reorganized for nontubular structures. Preheat and postweld heat treatment rules have also been updated.
John P. Swezy Jr. is an ASME Fellow with over 35 years of experience in steam and combustion-driven power generation systems and auxiliary engineering systems. A member of ASME Codes and Standards Committees since 1996, John has held leadership roles in Sections I, V, VIII, IX, B31, and B31.3. His career includes directing inspection services, managing ASME Code Fabrication programs, and delivering thousands of technical consultations on ASME and NBIC standards for global clients, providing practical, experience-driven insights into ASME Codes. John was formerly a National Board Commissioned Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspector and Inspector Supervisor, an AWS Certified Welding Inspector, and has served in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Mechanical Engineering Supervisor in the Submarine Service.
An impact testing qualified WPS has limitations on heat input that must be observed to remain within the qualified supplementary essential variables. Simply listing the maximum heat input in joules per inch of travel expects the welder to translate this value into useful information. A WPS should provide the welder with variables that are easily understood without being expected to perform a calculation or make a judgement call. This presentation provides helpful suggestions for effectively communicating heat input limitations in an impact testing qualified WPS.
Paisley Witkowski has just over a decade of welding and metallurgical engineering experience in the petroleum industry including design, new construction, maintenance and turn arounds. She has worked supporting both domestic and international (Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific) owner users, fabrication shop, and mechanical contractors for any welding and/or metallurgical needs. Areas of interest include WPS and quality program optimization, turn around planning and support for effective and efficient execution, unplanned outage support, fire damage assessments, and failure analysis. Paisley prides herself on being a keen and curious individual who adapts to new and existing methods; she enjoys analyzing problems from a multitude of angles to come to a viable practical solution. She received her B.A. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering with Materials Option from the University of Windsor in 2016. She is a volunteer of ASME IX and involved with II, VIII and PCC, a contributing member of API 582, and the Vice Chair of API 577.
Presentation overview coming soon.
Scott Witkowski is currently the Vice President of Republic Testing Laboratories. He has 30 years of experience in welding industry. He was the President & Founder of Maverick Testing Laboratories, the largest Independent Welder & Materials Testing Laboratory in the United States. Scott is a member of the following associations American Welding Society (AWS), ASME and API.
API 582 provides practical guidance for improving welding quality, consistency, and reliability across fabrication, inspection, and repair activities. This session explores how to effectively apply the recommended practices alongside applicable codes and standards, highlighting key implementation strategies, common challenges, and best practices that support successful welding operations in the chemical, oil, and gas industries.
Paul Spielbauer is a seasoned Weld Engineering based in Williamsburg MI, with extensive experience in welding standards, inspection protocols, and project execution. Known for his leadership in managing complex welding operations and ensuring compliance with API 1104 and other industry benchmarks. His recent work spans multiple large diameter oil and gas transmission lines helping with optimization, where he’s contributed to enhancing quality and operational efficiency. Paul is recognized for his hands-on approach, technical expertise, and commitment to advancing welding engineering best practices. He currently serves as the Secretary & Co-Chair of the Repair Welding Subcommittee for API STD 1104 and is an applicant member of the AWS D10U Subcommittee on Orbital Pipe Welding.
This presentation provides a comparison between the 20th and 21st editions of API Standard 1104, highlighting key updates, technical revisions, and implications for pipeline welding practices. It explores changes in terminology, procedure qualification requirements, and acceptance criteria, offering insights into how these modifications impact field operations, code compliance, and industry standards. The goal of the presentation will be a clear understanding of the evolution of API 1104 and its relevance to current and future pipeline projects. The presentation will also offer insight into changes in the 22nd Edition and what work is currently underway with the API 1104 committee to develop the next edition of the standard.
George W Galanes, P.E., Metallurgical Consulting Engineer, semi-retired with Diamond Technical Services, Inc. I am a licensed Professional Metallurgical Engineer since 2004 and have been involved with conducting and directing failure analysis investigations, condition assessment activities, and developing equipment repair programs for the Power Generation industry since 1983. I have been involved with the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) committee for 25 years and am the current Chair of the NBIC main committee. I am also a member of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section II standards committee on Materials as Chair, Section I standards committee on Power Boilers, Technical Oversight Management committee (TOMC) and a member on the Board of Pressure Technology Codes and Standards. I am also a member of the Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Rules for the State of IL since 2006.
The slide presentation will provide a brief overview of the NBIC, Part 3 of the NBIC and focus on how the topic of additive manufacturing (AM) using the direct energy deposition (DED) process will be introduced in the NBIC for pressure parts.
Jason Becker is a highly experienced welder/fabricator with 25 years of hands-on experience in the welding industry. Jason is a Marine Corps Veteran, having served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001–2005. He is also an AWS Certified Welding Inspector, Certified Welding Educator, and Certified Welder Performance Qualifier (CWI/CWE/WPQ1).
In addition to his extensive welding experience, Jason also holds a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management which he earned from Seminole State College with honors in 2016. He currently works as a full-time welding consultant and is dedicated to helping, educating, and inspiring the next generation of welders through his Arc Junkies Podcast.
The Arc Junkies Podcast is a weekly show that covers a wide range of welding topics including ironwork, fabrication, pipe welding, and everything in between. Jason invites other experts in the industry to join him on the show to discuss these topics and share their knowledge and experience. The podcast is available on all major podcast apps and is a great resource for anyone interested in the welding industry. Tune in each week to learn from one of the most experienced and knowledgeable welders in the business.
Today's fabrication projects often require compliance with multiple welding codes, including AWS, ASME, and API standards. While understanding each code individually is essential, applying them together on a single scope of work presents unique challenges that can lead to costly delays, rework, and compliance issues.
This interactive panel discussion brings together experts in engineering, inspection, quality assurance, fabrication, and code development to examine realistic project scenarios where multiple codes intersect. Rather than reviewing code requirements individually, panelists will discuss how experienced professionals determine governing codes, qualify procedures and personnel, resolve conflicting requirements, and maintain compliance from design through final inspection.
Moderated by Jason Becker, host of the Arc Junkies Podcast, the session encourages audience participation and practical discussion focused on real-world decision-making—not just code citations. Attendees will gain valuable insight into the collaborative thinking, communication, and problem-solving strategies used to successfully navigate complex projects involving multiple welding standards.
Whether you're an engineer, inspector, contractor, fabricator, educator, or quality professional, you'll leave with practical approaches that can be applied immediately on your next project.