BDI has announced that nondestructive testing (NDT) industry veteran Ricky Morgan has joined the company as its Steel NDT Program Manager.
Morgan brings nearly four decades of experience in nondestructive testing, structural inspection, and infrastructure safety across transportation, construction, and public-safety sectors. A former President of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), he is widely recognized across the global NDT community for his leadership in advancing inspection practices, workforce development, and the application of emerging technologies in critical infrastructure.
Throughout his career, Morgan has contributed to several high-profile infrastructure and construction projects, including SoFi Stadium, Hudson Yards, and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. His work has also supported structural systems in major theme park attractions such as Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Jurassic Park attractions. His professional experience spans bridges, seismic structures, fabrication facilities, marine assets, and large public venues, with a strong focus on life-safety and infrastructure reliability.
Over the course of his career, Morgan has held executive and technical leadership roles across consulting firms, training organizations, and inspection service providers. He has overseen large teams of inspectors working on multi-billion-dollar construction projects and contributed to the introduction of advanced ultrasonic testing methods into structural welding codes. His work also included the development of post-seismic inspection techniques following the Northridge earthquake. In addition, Morgan served as the technical editor for the ASNT Ultrasonic Testing Handbook.
Beyond his technical achievements, Morgan is a U.S. Army veteran and a strong advocate for workforce development within the NDT profession. He has supported technician training initiatives, contributed to the development of certification preparation tools, and mentored many professionals entering the field. He has also been featured on the television series Jobs of Tomorrow.
"Ricky's career reflects the exact blend of field expertise, industry leadership, and commitment to safety that defines BDI," said Darwin Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of BDI. "His experience across infrastructure, codes, and emerging inspection technologies will strengthen our ability to support asset owners facing increasingly complex challenges with the quality work they've come to expect from BDI."
Morgan has received several industry honors, including the ASNT Fellow Award, the Philip D. Johnson Honorary Member Award, and multiple mentoring and technician-recognition awards for his contributions to the NDT profession.
"I've always believed inspection is about protecting people first," Morgan said. "BDI's mission aligns perfectly with that philosophy — applying the right technology at the right time to make informed decisions about critical structures. I'm excited to be part of the team and return more to my structural inspection roots."
The appointment highlights BDI’s continued focus on strengthening its leadership and technical capabilities to support infrastructure owners in making data-driven decisions related to safety, maintenance, and long-term asset performance.
