A lifetime of welding excellence honored
The prestigious award was presented to David, a retired Corporate Fellow Emeritus at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), earlier this year by American Welding Society President Dr. Josh Burgess in honor of his “lifelong accomplishments in advancing welding science and technology.”
In a letter announcing the achievement, Burgess commended David for his role in strengthening the practice of welding across critical industries, ultimately inspiring a myriad of researchers, engineers and students. He particularly noted David’s work on welds of austenitic stainless steel, mathematical modeling and weld pool simulations, as well as single-crystal welding and high-performance materials.
“Over a remarkable career, you have helped elevate welding from an art into a rigorous scientific discipline grounded in metallurgy, modeling, experimentation and engineering application,” Burgess wrote to David. “Your leadership at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, including your stewardship of the Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences Welding Science Program, has shaped generations of research and set a standard of excellence that continues to influence the field worldwide.”
David, who joined ORNL in 1977, served as leader of the Materials Joining and Nondestructive testing group in the laboratory’s Metals and Ceramics Division. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indian Institute of Science in India and later earned a doctorate in metallurgical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Throughout his career, David has garnered a multitude of industry-related awards and recognitions, including the McKay-Helm Award, the James F. Lincoln Gold Medal, the Warren F. Savage Memorial Award, the Arata Prize and the 2023 Japanese Welding Science Award from Osaka University.
He also received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Pittsburgh and was named a fellow of many professional societies, such as the American Welding Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, ASM International and the International Institute of Welding.
Additionally, David, a founding member and editor-in-chief of the journal Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, has contributed to over 350 peer-reviewed journal publications and conference proceedings. He has also organized a variety of world-renowned conferences, further proving his influence as a leader and mentor.
However, according to David, none of this would have been possible without the unyielding support from his colleagues at ORNL and his family.
“I like to thank the people who help me in achieving all these things,” said David of his wife, Dolly, and their children, Kevin and Cheryl. “They helped support me to accomplish everything.”
