The Ebbs and Flows of My NDT Journey

By Muriel Magloire

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Back in 2020, graduating from college alongside my then 19-year-old son was exciting. I was sure the adventure was about to take an interesting turn as we both received offer letters from the same employer. The year 2020 proved to be one of many firsts for us. We learned the word “quarantine,” we shared our very first virtual graduation, we got to see ourselves on a billboard on the interstate near our home in Charlotte, North Carolina, and two months after graduation, we packed up a moving truck and drove 2,862 miles across the country to Washington state to begin our careers in nondestructive testing (NDT) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

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In the Summer of 2020, I began my career as a Level I NDT Inspector. The first six months on the job, I took several training classes specific to working in the shipyard as well as on-the-job training with seasoned Level II Inspectors. One class taught us about the tragedy of the USS Thresher that sank in 1963 leading to the loss of 139 lives. I left that class with watery eyes, a sick feeling in my stomach, and the words “First Time Quality” etched on my brain. For nearly three years, I have had the honor of working alongside welders, machinists, and engineers on aircraft carriers and submarines, and it is an experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

One of the very first jobs I worked on was a weld repair on the USS Lousiana, a submarine that has been in service since 1997. The very first aircraft carrier that I worked on was the USS Nimitz where I got my initial training hours for my electromagnetic testing (ET) certification. When I was in school for NDT, I was mainly interested in working in aerospace as an inspector, but the opportunity to travel is what drew me to working here at the shipyard.

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This past January, for the second time, I was fortunate to be among those selected to travel to Yokosuka, Japan for work on the USS Ronald Reagan, the only forward-deployed US aircraft carrier. I completed a variety of inspections on that ship, and the process truly enhanced my skills and expertise in NDT, time management, and customer service. The USS George Washington is expected to replace the USS Ronald Reagan in Yokosuka by 2025. To be one of the last NDT inspectors to work on the USS Ronald Reagan is a great distinction for me.

A dear friend of mine who served in the US Navy as a nuclear engineer was commissioned to USS George Washington when he was enlisted. He also took part in building the USS Ronald Reagan and I love listening to him reminisce about his previous service. In a way I feel that I am an extension of him.

Though I have never considered joining the military, I am delighted to have the privilege of serving the thousands of men and women who depend on us to ensure their safe travel and return by restoring their vessels to top-echelon condition before they leave our yard. I take great pride in knowing that I personally contributed to the maintenance, modernization, and retirement of our Navy’s fleet. Today I am a Radiation Worker and Level II certified in magnetic particle testing, visual testing, liquid penetrant testing, ultrasonic thickness testing,  and ET. I have worked on several aircraft carriers and submarines including the USS Carl Vinson, USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Albuquerque, USS Connecticut, and more.

Moving across the country to a place where I didn’t have any family other than my son, or any friends, affected me in ways that I never imagined it would. I was homesick and suffered from anxiety at times, but the joy and satisfaction that I’ve found in my new career carried me through. I earned two degrees prior to my associate of applied science in nondestructive examination technology, and neither of them led me to careers that gave me the fulfillment that I now have. As I look back over my time here, I believe unequivocally that my good days outweigh my bad days. I am grateful for this journey as it has helped me to develop confidence and strengthen my skills as a nondestructive test inspector.

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Muriel Magloire is one of the 2023 Faces of NDT. She is a Nondestructive Test Examiner with the US Department of Defense based in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Learn more about the Faces of NDT program on Chat NDT with ASNT or previous blog posts on ASNT Pulse.

• Meet the ASNT Faces of NDT
• Faces of NDT Tell their Stories

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Photos courtesy of Muriel Magloire.