358. Titans of our Industry II w/ Dick Holdren

In this episode of Arc Junkies Podcast, I sit down with Dick Holdren, President of the American Welding Society (AWS) and a 50-year veteran of the welding industry. From his early days at Ohio State University to working on major military and industrial projects, Dick has played a critical role in shaping welding standards, education, and automation. We cover a lot in this conversation, including: AWS certification changes and what welders, inspectors, and engineers need to know The importance of welding standards and terminology—and how they impact contracts and compliance The rise of robotic welding and automation in fabrication Lessons from working on MRAP armored vehicles and other military projects How welding engineers bridge the gap between design, production, and inspection The value of getting involved with AWS committees and how you can influence industry standards Arc Junkies Podcast: Instagram: @Arcjunkiespodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253 Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BKipEwR3uQXCmCjaEfNzo6w%3D%3D Arc Junkies Website: https://arcjunkies.com Arc junkies Merch: https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home Underground Metal Works: https://www.underground-metalworks.com/   Friends of the Show: American Welding Society Conferences IEC Conference https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/iec/ Use BECKER at Checkout and get a free gift at the event. Outlaw Leather LLC Outlawleather.com Instagram: @outlawleatherusa Use ARCJUNKIES for 15% off all in-stock leather goods Knipex https://www.knipex-tools.com/   Demonstrate Love Donate Here https://www.demonstratelove.org/    International Welding Bureau Internationalweldingbureau.com   Everlast Welders Instagram: @everlastwelders  YouTube: Everlast Welders         Online: https://bit.ly/37xJstI Use Codeword ARCJUNKIES at checkout to get upgraded to a free Nova Foot Pedal and TIG Torch with the purchase of any machine that comes with a stock foot pedal and TIG Torch. Walter Surface Technologies https://hubs.ly/Q034MdgX0 ISOTUNES: Instagram: @isotunesaudio Online: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10.  Use ARCJUNKIES10 at checkout and save $10 on your purchase