At Work: Jessica Osborne

What's a moment when you knew this was the right career for you?

I think my spark for NDT [nondestructive testing] came early on during my apprenticeship at Bath Iron Works in Maine. And, most of all, knowing I had a hand in keeping our service members safe with my inspections drove my desire to make this a career.

What's something about your job that you wish people understood?

That NDT happens all around us! From the obvious buildings we go to school or work in—there's been some kind of NDT along the way.

Who's someone in NDT who shaped how you work, and how?

One of the most influential people I've met in NDT is Larry Gill. He's mindful of teaching the “why” behind what we do.

Walk us through the best part of your week.

The best part of my week is just showing up. It's a humbling experience to be supporting the mission here.

What's a mistake early in your career that changed how you work today?

I was a new Level II UT [ultrasonic testing] technician. But I made a rookie mistake by scanning a deck plate seam and assuming a signal was just geometry. Thankfully, my supervisor was walking the yard and saw my mistake. I never assume; I always draw out my sound path and double-check everything. That could've been a bad miss down the line.

What's the toughest call you've had to make on the job, and how'd you decide?

I was doing UT on a seam done by a new robotic welder. I started to see an indication that wasn't stopping and kept going almost the entire length of a 30-foot (9.14-meter) weld. I checked my calibration and drew out the sound path. I did get my supervisor to confirm that it was the right thing to do.

What technology or trend do you think will reshape NDT in the next five years?

It's not new, but CT [computed tomography] is a great technology. We've seen indications missed with conventional RT [radiographic testing] and UT.

What's one thing you wish the next generation of inspectors knew before they started?

Remember the why. I think it's easy to forget why we do this work when you're doing difficult RT shots at 3 a.m. in the cold. Every day, every inspection matters.

If you could fix one thing about how the industry works, what would it be?

Like most other trades, not many people see the work we do and how important it is. If we can continue to work on outreach, we can set ourselves up for a brighter future in young technicians.

What do you do outside of work that quietly makes you better at your job?

I try to get to the gym at least a couple of days a week. I also have a 14-month-old boy, so that's a great test in patience and staying calm under pressure!

What quote or philosophy do you live by?

From Thomas Jefferson: “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”