Gerry Koch, Ph.D. is a senior principal engineer for DNV Columbus. He has been with DNV Columbus since February 1990 and has directed or contributed to several programs dealing with corrosion, degradation and fracture of structural materials and coatings, including experimental and field studies of materials, literature surveys, and failure analyses. Specific programs addressed materials evaluations and corrosion control system development for Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems, corrosion monitoring system development for aircraft, stress-corrosion cracking of gas transmission pipelines, corrosion of marine structures, and failure analyses for a variety of industries ranging from the power generation to the aerospace industries. Dr. Koch has conducted a number of programs for the U.S. Air Force and has worked as an expert witness on various cases related to corrosion and metallurgy. He has conducted and managed large engineering and laboratory projects to assess corrosion conditions in upstream oil and gas facilities, primarily in the Middle East. From 2000 through 2002, Dr. Koch led a team of experts to assess the impact of corrosion on the U.S. economy.