Former NASA Astronaut Leads AMPP 2025 as Keynote Speaker

Mike Massimino. Photo by Jeffrey Schifman for Columbia Engineering.

As the global authority in materials protection and performance, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) announced that Mike Massimino, Ph.D., is headlining its 2025 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. 

Taking place from April 6-10, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, the association’s annual flagship event anticipates drawing over 6,000 materials protection experts, industry leaders, and technological innovators from around the world.

Massimino is a former U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut; a New York Times best-selling author; and a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University.

As the conference’s keynote speaker, he will deliver a presentation titled “The Team’s Success is Your Success: You Cannot Do This Alone, You Will Succeed or Fail as a Team” at 3:30 p.m. local time on Monday, April 7, at the Music City Center. 

Drawing upon his experiences as a NASA astronaut, an engineer, and as a public figure, Massimino’s insights will focus on the importance of teamwork, resilience, and innovation—principles that resonate deeply within the materials protection and performance industry.

“We are privileged to have such a distinguished figure join us for our conference,” says Alan Thomas, CEO of AMPP. “Dr. Massimino’s journey as an astronaut and his dedication to team success align perfectly with AMPP’s goals. His story reminds us that success is built together and reflects the resilience and innovation that drive our daily work. Our attendees are in for a memorable and impactful session.”

In addition to his career at NASA, where he flew on two shuttle missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope, Massimino has held many roles in academia and has made numerous appearances on television. This includes a spot on the famous CBS comedy, “The Big Bang Theory.” 

He currently teaches at Columbia University and is a senior advisor for space programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. 

His bestselling book, “Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe,” chronicles his journey in space and his contributions to human space exploration.

About the AMPP 2025 Show

Each year, the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo is the world’s largest event for the corrosion, coatings and materials protection industry. It offers attendees five days of learning and networking while showcasing the latest advancements in asset protection and sustainability. 

For more information about the conference or to register, visit ace.ampp.org.

About AMPP as an Association

AMPP is a global community of professionals focused on the protection of assets and the performance of industrial and natural materials. Established in 2021 following a merger between NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, the new association unites 145 years of corrosion control and protective coatings expertise and service to industry and members worldwide. 

Today, AMPP is the world’s largest corrosion control and protective coatings organization, serving more than 35,000 members in over 140 countries. AMPP is headquartered in the United States with offices in Houston and Pittsburgh, along with additional offices in Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai (training center), Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. 

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.