The United States military faces a silent but costly enemy that threatens national security and maritime readiness. According to a Department of Defense report, corrosion costs the U.S. military more than $22.5 billion annually, weakening naval shipyards, degrading fleet reliability, and threatening the modernization of America’s maritime infrastructure. As global adversaries ramp up their naval investments, the U.S. must act decisively to protect its readiness, starting with the materials that hold its maritime capabilities together.
Recognizing this critical challenge, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), the leading global authority in corrosion control and protective coatings, is convening experts, engineers, and industry leaders in Washington, D.C., for Advocacy Day 2025. This two-day event, scheduled for July 9-10, 2025, will focus on advancing policy solutions that strengthen America’s maritime future through corrosion mitigation and innovation in protective coatings.
The event will take place on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies, with registration currently open to participants. Attendees will engage directly with congressional offices and federal agencies to advocate for innovative, science-driven policies that support shipyard modernization, workforce development, and protective coating standards while promoting long-term resilience.
“Corrosion isn’t just an industry problem—it’s a national readiness issue,” said Kern Williams, AMPP Government Relations Manager. “We’re bringing the voice of materials experts directly to policymakers, so corrosion prevention is embedded into shipbuilding legislation, funding and infrastructure strategy from the start.”
Key Issues Facing the Nation
The advocacy effort will address several critical challenges that threaten America’s maritime capabilities:
Maritime Security at Risk: Corrosion poses a direct threat to the effectiveness and longevity of ships, shipyards, and military platforms, potentially compromising national defense capabilities.
Shipbuilding Bottlenecks: Without adequate preventive coatings and trained specialists, modernization plans cannot achieve their full potential, creating delays and cost overruns in critical defense projects.
Workforce Gaps: The nation’s aging infrastructure demands a new generation of skilled coatings professionals to keep pace with national defense goals, yet current training and development programs fall short of meeting this need.
Standards Implementation: Uniform application of proven protective technologies is essential to ensure safety, performance, and cost efficiency across all maritime operations.
Target Audience and Participation
Advocacy Day 2025 is open to AMPP members and partners across multiple sectors critical to maritime infrastructure. The event particularly welcomes professionals from shipbuilding and naval logistics, protective coatings manufacturing and inspection, infrastructure engineering and quality assurance, government contracting and public policy, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations.
Participation in the advocacy event is free, though attendees are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements. The organization has secured group hotel rates, with a deadline of June 18 for booking.
Expert Insights and Preparation
To prepare participants for the advocacy effort, AMPP is offering insights through a special roundtable podcast featuring industry leaders. The discussion includes perspectives from Kristin Leonard of Sherwin-Williams and D. Terry Greenfield of CONSULEX, joined by AMPP’s Williams and Ben DuBose. The podcast will break down the top legislative priorities, including coatings innovation, infrastructure investment, and the vital role of corrosion prevention in national security.
The advocacy initiative represents a coordinated effort to ensure that policymakers understand the critical connection between materials science and national security. By bringing together technical experts and industry leaders, AMPP aims to influence legislation and funding decisions that will strengthen America’s maritime infrastructure for decades to come.
As the nation faces increasing global competition and evolving security challenges, the importance of maintaining robust maritime capabilities cannot be overstated. The $22.5 billion annual cost of corrosion represents not just a financial burden but a strategic vulnerability that requires immediate attention and sustained investment in both technology and human capital.
Listen now: AMPP Advocacy Day 2025: Key Initiatives in Washington, DC
For more information or to register for Advocacy Day, visit: AMPP Advocacy Day – AMPP or www.ampp.org
