SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017 - 40

North America Report
Rick Willardson
Pressurized Structures Lead, Firefly Space Systems
rick_willardson@live.com

Wow, it has been a fast couple of months. It feels like I just got done writing my column for the last issue. There has
sure been a lot going on. In the spirit of self-account ability, I haven't uploaded my video to the SAMPE YouTube
Channel yet. However, I did take tons of video at the Composite Materials Merit Badge during the Fort Worth
Airshow and I have enlisted help from the talented SAMPE staff to edit it down to something presentable. I will let
you know when it is available.
In early November, it was my privilege to attend the 4th SAMPE Brazil Congress in Sao Paulo. I thoroughly enjoyed
meeting and interacting with the SAMPE Brazil members. They have made great progress with their chapter in
just four years and I wish them continued success. I particularly enjoyed meeting the students and discussing the
bridge contest. They have such great energy! The bridge contest excitement seems to be contagious wherever it
goes. To the SAMPE Brazil members, muito obrigado for a great visit to Brazil! I am also excitedly making plans
to attend the SAMPE Europe Summit in Paris this spring. It will be my first visit to this event that I have heard so
much about. I can't wait!
As I am writing this article, I am also putting the finishing touches on my presentation for the 6th Composite
Pressure Vessel Symposium. The CPV Symposium is an annual event were attendees, learn and discuss technology
and issues relating to the CPV industry. The location alternates between Europe and North America with the 2016
symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. It is also an enjoyable networking event for the CPV community. I am preparing a
presentation on composite cryotanks. I am re-learning this topic after several years away from the pursuit. I wanted
to make sure I had all my facts straight and be able to provide the conference attendees with reliable references. I
turned to the SAMPE digital paper library and was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of information I found there.
It was very easy to access and I discovered that the topic of composite cryotanks has been thoroughly covered at
our SAMPE conferences for many years. Certainly as far back as we have digital papers available. The five papers I
referenced were well worth the $102 I paid for my membership renewal. The library search engine is located here http://www.nasampe.org/page/searchengine or under Publications\SAMPE Digital Library\Digital Library Search
Engine in the web page menu structure.
This year will see the introduction of the new global SAMPE logo approved by the global board of directors at
CAMX. The North American executive cabinet has also approved the variation of the logo for our region. Both of
these logos should debut in the next few months, if they aren't already in this issue. Certainly by SAMPE 2017 in
Seattle, you will see the new SAMPE North America logo!
As we close out 2016 and look forward to 2017, I hope our SAMPE members had a Merry Christmas, Happy
Chanukah and/or a Joyous Kwanzaa! I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year!

SAMPE Journal, Volume 53, No. 1, January/February 2017

http://www.nasampe.org/page/searchengine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal - January/February 2017