by Haley Cowans
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In these back-to-back episodes of Chat NDT with ASNT, Jill Ross, ASNT Director of Publications, speaks with NDT pioneer Chuck Hellier about how he began his career in NDT and his memories of the early days of ASNT. Chuck had so many interesting stories to tell that ASNT is releasing the conversation in two parts.
Part 1
In Part 1, Chuck discusses how he decided to pursue a new career while working his first job at a steel mill, taking night classes at Temple University. His first job in NDT was as an X-ray technician at the Budd Company, a job he says he got at the time because he mentioned in his interview that he liked photography.
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“I have no idea how I qualified for that by liking photography, but that was my first job in NDT!” Hellier recalled.
He discusses how at that time, there were no training courses or certification, so he learned while on the job. As his career progressed, he did eventually take his first certification exam—the results may surprise listeners! Chuck continued in his career, learning more about NDT methods and equipment as he moved into supervisory roles and sales positions before eventually starting his own business. He also became involved with ASNT, including helping to start the Connecticut Yankee Section (which is still active today).
Chuck also discusses his memories of some of ASNT’s most prominent figures, including Bob McMaster (the editor of the first edition of ASNT’s Nondestructive Testing Handbook). Chuck met McMaster after taking one of his NDT courses at the Ohio State University. He recalls McMaster’s skills as a lecturer and their lifelong friendship.
“[McMaster’s course] was the one that really launched me and really convinced me that NDT was the career I wanted to pursue. He really energized people; he was a remarkable lecturer,” Chuck said.
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He also recalls how conversations with Philip D. Johnson (one of ASNT’s founders) inspired him to get more involved with ASNT at the national level, serving as the chair of the Education Council before eventually becoming the Secretary/Treasurer of the Society.
Part 2
In the second part, Chuck discusses how he transitioned into NDT training. As he describes, he was first asked to give evening courses at what is now Three Rivers Community College in Connecticut. He also gave courses for ASNT, and he found that he really enjoyed training.
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“I could see the benefits to so many people that went through the courses,” Chuck said. “It was a lot of fun besides, being able to see young people get really involved with something that would turn out to be a profession.”
These experiences culminated in a fateful snowstorm in San Antonio that kept him from pursuing a new job and instead, starting the training company Hellier NDT.
“We landed in San Antonio airport, and the biggest snowstorm I think San Antonio ever had, 12 in.,” Chuck recalled. “I thought it was a message from God saying ‘You better stay in New England where you get used to this snow.’”
Hellier NDT grew and evolved, and was eventually acquired by Acuren, but Chuck stayed on until 2010. Even though he had moved on from Hellier, he wasn’t ready to “kick back.” He and Jim Treat had been teaching management courses for NDT technicians. Chuck recalls that at an NDTMA conference, he and Jim were approached by someone from Full Circle Studios who asked if they had ever considered online training. This meeting was the beginning of NDT Classroom, which was started by Chuck and Jim in partnership with Full Circle Studios and Dr. Kevin Crosby (PhD in Curriculum and Educational System Design).
Chuck recalls being initially skeptical that NDT could be taught online, but they focused on replicating the way the body of NDT knowledge would be presented in an in-person classroom. NDT Classroom took off and soon became a leader in NDT training. It was acquired by ASNT in February 2023, and Chuck recalls that at the time of this acquisition, it had served over 13 000 learners. Now under ASNT’s training umbrella, NDT Classroom will continue serving the NDT community with high-quality programs that provide time- and cost-saving benefits to learners.
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“I think ASNT is the right place for it […] I’m very happy that the acquisition occurred,” Chuck said.
In addition to his experiences as a leader in NDT education, Chuck and Jill discuss his most memorable experiences in NDT. Chuck describes his travels and the remarkable experiences he’s had, including consulting and testifying for the US government and one truly unforgettable near-death experience! Chuck emphasizes that an NDT career provides so many opportunities, and he hopes his stories will inspire more NDT practitioners to pursue everything the career has to offer.
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To learn more about ASNT history, members can access From Vision to Mission: ASNT 1941 To 2016 in the online store. (The book is free to members and available for nonmembers to purchase.)
ASNT recently acquired NDT Classroom, a leader in the delivery of online NDT training programs founded in 2012 by Chuck Hellier and Jim Treat. Read more in the ASNT Newsroom.
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Haley Cowans is the Content Strategist at ASNT, hcowans@asnt.org.
Jill Ross is the Director of Publications at ASNT, jross@asnt.org.
To be a guest on Chat NDT with ASNT, contact Debbie Segor, CAE, Marketing and Communications Manager at ASNT, dsegor@asnt.org.
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