THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Monday, 30 March 2009
040/2009
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE SCIENCE RECOGNISED
INTERNATIONALLY
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP,
today congratulated Defence corrosion expert Dr Bruce Hinton on winning the
prestigious 2009 Frank Newman Speller Award, from the US-based professional
organisation NACE International.
Dr Hinton, from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), was
recognised for his ‘sustained and insightful application of science and engineering
to the solution and prevention of corrosion on Australian Defence Force aircraft’.
“Over a 40-year period Dr Hinton has made invaluable contributions to Defence
with his research into corrosion problems, including atmospheric corrosion,
corrosion sensors and corrosion inhibition,” Mr Snowdon said.
“His work has increased aircraft availability for operational use, and significantly
reduced the time and money spent on aircraft maintenance.”
Mr Snowdon said a program to proactively manage corrosion in Australia’s Black
Hawk fleet in the 1990s was one of Dr Hinton’s most significant contributions to
Defence.
On 25 March Dr Hinton delivered the 2009 F. N. Speller lecture at the Corrosion
2009 conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on ‘Prevention and Control of Corrosion in
Aircraft: Changes Over Four Decades’.
Dr Hinton is the first Australian to win the F. N. Speller award, named after a US
pioneer in metallurgy and corrosion control engineering. Dr Hinton has also
received the Defence Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science for
his work on corrosion control and management.
“Recognition for Dr Hinton shows that DSTO’s work continues to be highly
regarded around the world,” Mr Snowdon said.
NACE International, formerly the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, is
dedicated to protecting the environment and reducing the economic impact of
corrosion through science and engineering.
Media contacts:
Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):
02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689
Steve D’Arcy (DSTO):
03 9626 7128 or 0419 991 909
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
