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12 NOVEMBER 2017 COATINGSPROMAG.COM A s the corrosion control industry has developed and grown, NACE International established itself early on as an organization committed to the cause. From its beginnings as a small group of engineers focused on cathodic protection (CP) to address metal pipeline degradation, NACE has evolved into a worldwide organization that is involved in every industry and area of corrosion prevention and control, from oil and gas to transportation and infra- structure protection. In 2018, the association will celebrate its 75th anniversary, a milestone made possible by the knowl- edge, expertise, and continued support of its members. As in the past, NACE continues to advance education and training, technical discussions, and standards development, and advocate corrosion control as part of its mission to protect people, assets, and the environ- ment from the effects of corrosion. At the beginning of the 20th century, little was known about the science of corrosion control. By the 1930s, however, significant strides had been achieved, and CP had come into widespread use to control corrosion on underground pipelines. is gener- ated concern about damage to adjacent structures from stray current. It became apparent that an organization was needed to serve as a clearinghouse for information about underground operations and to estab- lish standard procedures for installing and maintaining CP systems. is led to the formation of the Houston, Texas-based Mid-Continent Cathodic Protection Association in 1938. In 1940, the Petroleum Industry Electrical Association (PIEA) offered to sponsor this group, which became the PIEA Cathodic Section. Members then deter- mined the value of forming a separate association dedicated specifically to corrosion control. On October 9, 1943, 11 corrosion engineers agreed to found this endeavor, and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) was born. In 1945, with 268 members, NACE was incorporated under Texas law as a not-for-profit technical association. By the end of the 1940s, NACE had five regions, 17 sections, and more than 1,700 members. NACE also broadened its scope, expanding beyond a purely CP and pipeline focus to include the oil and gas production, chemical processing, and refining industries, as well as other mitigation methods, such as protective coatings and linings, chemical treatment, and materials selection and design. is, along with increasing public knowledge about the effects of corrosion, fueled impressive membership growth. Today, the association (renamed NACE International — e Corrosion Society in 1993) has four areas and 80 sections in North America, four inter- national areas with 61 sections, and a total of nearly 36,000 members from 140 countries. In addition to NACE headquarters in Houston, there are staff offices in San Diego, California; Shanghai, China; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and A l-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Association staffers serve in divisions such as publications (including CoatingsPro Magazine, incorporated as a NACE magazine in 2009), education and training, public affairs, and the NACE International Foundation, dedicated to the interests of the future generation of corrosion professionals. In early years, the need to develop technologies and document them for use in industry was a primary force. Now, more than 3,000 NACE members partici- pate in related activities across more than 300 technical committees. Fall Committee Week became Corrosion Technology Week (CTW) in 2003 to attract attendees who might not be members. Many committees also meet each spring at CORROSION, NACE's annual conference — to be held next year from April 15‒19, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona. Overall, since NACE issued its first two standards more than four decades ago, the association has developed more than 150 standards, including standard practices, materials requirements, and test methods. NACE also offers techni- cal committee reports. As the group's structure has evolved, one thing remains the same: NACE is driven by its members, who provide oversight and input to ensure the associ- ation best serves its membership. is includes the Board of Directors, commit- tees, areas and sections, and more. With the 75th anniversary approaching, NACE leadership contin- ues to develop new strategic plans to address the association's direction and further define its goals and objectives. is close relationship between leaders, staff, and membership has enabled NACE to become the thriving, 36,000- member international technical society that it remains today. CP 1 9 4 3 – 2 0 1 8 NACE INTERNATIONAL 75 NACE News NACE International Celebrates 75th Anniversary in 2018