Joseph Ball, P.E.
Director, Pressure Relief Department

Mr. Ball joined the National Board in 1980 as a lab technician, later becoming an ASME Authorized Observer. Today he is the Director of the Pressure Relief Department, responsible for pressure relief device new construction and repair certification programs and test lab operations. Mr. Ball also conducts shop reviews of valve and rupture disk manufacturers, assemblers, repair organizations, and test laboratories.

A Professional Engineer in Ohio, Mr. Ball is secretary of the NBIC Subcommittee on Pressure Relief Devices and is a member of the ASME Subcommittee on Safety Valve Requirements and PTC-25 Pressure Relief Devices Committee.

A and VR Instructor -- Email Now

Walter Beach
National Board Consultant

After holding various industry and Authorized Inspection Agency positions spanning over 30 years in the areas of non-nuclear Code design, non-nuclear and nuclear quality assurance, inspections, fabrication, project management, trainer, supervision and NBIC repair & alterations, Mr. Beach became a National Board consultant in 2012.

He has served as a committee member of ASME Subgroup on Containment Systems for Spent Fuel and High Level Waste Transport Packaging (SC III), Subgroup on Materials, Fabrication, and Examination (SC III), SWG Regulatory Interface, and Task Group on Parts Fabrication Stamp. Mr. Beach also has an extensive background in the development of nuclear and non-nuclear QA/QC programs from small companies to large corporations.

Mr. Beach holds a BS in Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Youngstown State University, and holds a National Board Commission with A, B, C, N, and NS Endorsements.

A, B, N, and NS Instructor -- Email Now

Tom Beirne, P.E.
Senior Staff Engineer

Mr. Beirne joined the National Board in 2010 as a Senior Staff Engineer in the Pressure Relief Department. He also is an ASME Authorized Observer for the test lab.

Mr. Beirne’s career began as a Project Engineer responsible for system design at a compressor company. His experience also includes positions as a Design Engineer, QC Manager, and Chief Engineer for a pressure vessel manufacturer and working as an Authorized Inspector for an inspection agency.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University, is a Professional Engineer in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and holds a National Board Commission with an A Endorsement.

A and VR Instructor -- Email Now

Francis Brown, P.E.
Senior Staff Engineer

Mr. Brown joined the National Board in 1992 and is a registered professional engineer with over 30 years of experience. His experience includes design of ASME Section VIII pressure vessels; analysis of vessels and piping used in nuclear steam systems; and manager of a mechanical engineering department responsible for the design of pressure vessels.

Mr. Brown is a member of NBIC Subgroups on Graphite Pressure Equipment and Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Equipment. He also serves on the ASME Subcommittee on Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels, Section VIII Subgroup on Design, and Inspection Planning as well as the Special Working Groups on Nonmetallic Materials and Graphite Pressure Vessels and the Hydrogen Project Task Group.

A, B, and IC Instructor -- Email Now

J. Alton Cox
National Board Consultant

Mr. Cox joined the National Board as a consultant in 1987 and has over 35 years experience in pressure relief valve inspection, repair, assembly, and testing. He has held the position of Quality Control Manager of four “VR” Certificate Holders and ASME Assemblers.

In addition, Mr. Cox has provided QC consulting services and hands-on PRV maintenance training for valve repair shops, nuclear power stations, pharmaceutical facilities, chemical plants, and NASA test sites for more than 20 years.

Mr. Cox is Chairman of ASME PTC-25 as well as the ASME Subgroup Testing. He is also a member of the Subcommittee on Safety Valve Requirements and serves as Vice Chairman of the National Board Subcommittee on Pressure Relief Devices.

VR Instructor -- Email Now

Robert Ferrell
Senior Staff Engineer-Training

Mr. Ferrell joined the National Board in 1999 to oversee the R/NR Accreditation Programs and today is a Senior Staff Engineer in the training department.

With over 23 years of experience in design, operation, maintenance, and inspection of pressure-retaining systems, Mr. Ferrell has served as a nuclear plant operator in the US Navy, Inservice Inspection Engineer at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Quality Assurance and Engineering Manager for York-Shipley, and Deputy Chief Inspector for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Temple University, is an ASME and National Board Team Leader, and holds a National Board Commission with A, B, N, and I Endorsements.

A, B, IC, ISI, N, and RO Instructor -- Email Now

John Hoh
Senior Staff Engineer

Mr. Hoh joined the National Board in 1991 and today is a Senior Staff Engineer responsible for investigations. He has over 37 years of experience in the boiler and pressure vessel industry which includes 12 years as a Boilermaker welder working at various fossil fuel power plant sites.

Previously Mr. Hoh served as the Chief Boiler Inspector for the State of Missouri for five years. He has also been a member of the ASME Committee on Section IV Heating Boilers and served as secretary of NBIC Part 3. He currently is a member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Stoker Operations and sits on CGA Committee dedicated to anhydrous ammonia vessels.

Mr. Hoh is an ASME and NB Review Team Leader and holds a National Board Commission with A and B Endorsements.

A and IC Instructor -- Email Now

Steve Irvin
Senior Staff Engineer

In 1996, Mr. Irvin became the Laboratory Manager for the National Board Testing Laboratory and is currently a Senior Staff Engineer in the Pressure Relief Department. He is an ASME Authorized Observer, conducting shop reviews of valve manufacturers, assemblers, and repair organizations.

Previously Mr. Irvin served in the US Coast Guard and was a member of ASME Subcommittees on Power Boilers; Heating Boilers; Safety Valve Requirements; and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Accreditation. He also served as a member on the ASME Subgroup on Design, under the Subcommittee on Safety Valve Requirements.

Mr. Irvin holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Academy.

VR Instructor -- Email Now

James McGimpsey
Senior Staff Engineer

Mr. McGimpsey joined the National Board in 2008 after retiring as Chief Boiler Inspector for the State of Montana. He has over 40 years in the boiler and pressure vessel industry.

Mr. McGimpsey has served as a nuclear power plant operator in the US Navy Submarine Service and as a Facility Engineer for the Department of Defense in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Currently he oversees the National Board Commission and Examination Department, serves as secretary for NBIC Part 3 Subcommittee on Repairs and Alterations, is a member of ASME Section V and XII Committees.

Mr. McGimpsey holds a National Board Commission and First Class Boiler Operators License.

IC, ISI, and RO Instructor -- Email Now

Terry Parks
Manager of Field Services

Prior to joining the National Board Technical Department in 2007, Mr. Parks was Chief Boiler Inspector for the State of Texas, National Board Member, and Chairman of the Texas Boiler Board. Mr. Parks retired from the US Navy in 1990 as a Senior Chief Machinist Mate.

Today Mr. Parks is Manager of Field Services and Chairman of the NBIC Committee. He also serves on ASME Subcommittee Section IV Heating Boilers, Post Construction Subcommittee on Repairs and Testing, Post Construction Standards Committee, QAI Subcommittee Accreditation, QAI Standards Committee, and Committee on Designees. He also serves on the Black Liquor Recovery Boiler Advisory Committee (BLRBAC) Subcommittee on Welding.

He is designated as an ASME and National Board Team Leader, ASME Nuclear Survey Team Member, and holds a National Board Commission with A, B, and N Endorsements.

B, IC, and RTL Instructor -- Email Now

Christian Sawyer
National Board Consultant

Mr. Sawyer has 30 years of experience in the pressure relief valve industry which includes owning two repair companies specializing in valve assembly, repair, and service.

Currently, Mr. Sawyer works as an independent consultant within the pressure relief valve industry, conducting shop reviews of repair organizations as a National Board Representative and ASME reviews for V and UV society symbol stamp holders.

Mr. Sawyer holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Louisville.

VR Instructor -- Email Now

Robert Schueler
Senior Staff Engineer

Mr. Schueler joined the National Board in 1984 after serving five years on the National Board Advisory Committee representing the boiler industry. He has also worked for Erie City Iron Works where he designed bonding systems for high speed aircraft fabrication, power boilers, and pressure vessels.

Mr. Schueler has spent over 38 years serving on ASME Code Committees, most notably sitting on Section I Subcommittee since 1973. He also serves on ASME’s Subcommittee Design; B31.1 Piping Code; Special Working Group on Bolted Flange Design; and various Subgroups. Mr. Schueler is also an Executive Committee Member of the ASME Central Ohio Section.

Mr. Schueler is secretary for the NBIC Special Subgroup on Steam Locomotives and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University.

A, B, IC, ISI, and RTL Instructor -- Email Now

Clayton Smith
National Board Consultant

Mr. Smith became a National Board consultant in 2011. He has over 26 years experience in the nuclear industry specializing in Nuclear Safety Related and ASME Section III, Div. 1, 2, and 3 design, construction, and procurement; Section XI repair and replacements coupled with traditional non-nuclear ASME Code design and construction; and NBIC Part 3 activities.

Mr. Smith is currently secretary for ASME NED Technical Committee and a member of ASME's Board of Nuclear Codes and Standards as well as several other ASME nuclear committees.

Mr. Smith received his BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology from TESC, and is a NQA-1 Qualified Lead Auditor and QC/NDE Level III holding various ACI certifications. He holds a National Board Commission with A, B, C, I, N, and NS Endorsements.

C, I, N, and NS Instructor -- Email Now

James Worman
Senior Staff Engineer-Training

Mr. Worman joined the National Board in 2010 and has over 20 years experience in the welding, design, and inspection of pressure vessels.

His experience includes working as a Welding Engineer for CVI Corporation–an ASME Section VIII cryogenic and vacuum vessel shop, Quality Control Manager for Ecopic Corporation, Welding Engineer at Ashland Corporation, and Quality Control Manager for CMI UVK Corporation.

Mr. Worman has a BS in Welding Engineering from The Ohio State University and is a Certified Welding Inspector. He is a member of the American Welding Society and is trained as an ASNT Level II, Liquid Penetrant, Magnetic Particle, and Ultrasonic Examiner.

A, IC, N, RO, and VR Instructor -- Email Now