Coatings Consulting Team

Robert B. Leggat, PhD – KTA Consulting and Laboratory Services Manager
412.746.4271, rleggat@kta.com

Robert Leggat is the KTA Consulting and Laboratory Services Manager and has over 15 years of experience in the protective coatings industry.  He holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia and successfully completed the KTA Level I Basic Coatings Inspection training course.  Mr. Leggat joined KTA in August 2016 as the Laboratory Services Manager overseeing the operations of the Analytical and Physical Testing Laboratories.  In this position, he oversees all laboratory services which include paint, corrosion and material testing services, coating failure investigations, coatings research, and compositional analysis. Under his oversight, senior chemists, chemists, and research and development specialists provide clients with independent, accurate analyses of coating problems and advance the industry’s understanding of the performance characteristics of protective coatings and abrasive media. Prior to joining KTA, Mr. Leggat held various senior research and technical management positions with the United States Steel Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA.  Contact Me

Rick A. Huntley – Technical Manager of Consulting Services
412.722.0590, rhuntley@kta.com

Rick Huntley is the Technical Manager of Consulting Services and a Senior Coatings Consultant for KTA where he has been employed for over 20 years. He is a NACE Certified Coatings Inspector Level 3 (Peer Review) and an SSPC Certified Protective Coatings Specialist. In his current position, Rick is responsible for technical review of proposals/reports and project management. He also performs consulting activities that include coating failure analysis, coating condition assessments, coating system recommendations and specification preparation review, and expert witness testimony. Rick has consulted on major marine coating projects, bridge coating projects, condominium and housing project rehabilitations, and parking garage renovations. He has also conducted coating specification review for highway departments, water districts, A&E firms, and various manufacturers. He is a primary instructor for various KTA training courses, an SSPC NBP1-approved instructor, and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Washington State University. | Contact Me

 

Jayson L. Helsel, P.E. – Senior Coatings Consultant
412.722.0597, jhelsel@kta.com

Jay Helsel is a Senior Coatings Consultant with KTA where he has been employed for over 10 years. He is a registered Professional Engineer in numerous states, an SSPC Certified Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS), and he is also a NACE Certified Coatings Inspector Level 3 (Peer Review). Jay has extensive marine and shipboard experience having served 11 years in the Coast Guard, most recently as a Lieutenant Commander in the area of Marine Vessel Inspection. At KTA, he has managed the field investigations and laboratory analyses of coating failure cases, including those of a major automobile manufacturer and luxury home developer. Jay has also been involved with coating condition assessments, inspections of industrial structures, and contractor painting submittal reviews. He serves as a principal instructor for a variety of KTA-offered training courses and has authored numerous technical articles in industry publications. Jay holds a B.S. in Applied Science (with High Honors) and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering. | Contact Me

Robert S. Lanterman – Senior Coatings Consultant
412.722.0745, rlanterman@kta.com

Robert Lanterman is a Coatings Consultant for KTA. He is an SSPC Certified Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS), a NACE Certified Coatings Inspector Level 3 (Peer Review) with Marine endorsement.  In this capacity, he continues to perform coating condition assessment services, conducts coating failure investigations, and provides litigation support and specification preparation/review services. Prior to his current assignment, Rob served as a Project Engineer for Materials Design Evaluation, Inc. (MDE), a KTA employee spin-off company. His responsibilities included the oversight of the design, fabrication installation, and repair of industrial equipment; preparation and review of engineering design drawings and calculations for compliance with industry standards, specifications, and regulations; field inspection and failure analysis services; and development of laboratory testing protocols and data analysis. Rob holds a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from the Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. | Contact Me

Richard A. Burgess – Senior Coatings Consultant (Part-Time)
832.541.4685, rburgess@kta.com

Rich Burgess is a Senior Consultant for KTA where he has been employed for over 18 years. Rich is a NACE Certified Coatings Inspector Level 3 (Peer Review), an SSPC Certified Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS), an SSPC C-3 Supervisor/Competent Person for Deleading of Industrial Structures, is a principal instructor for the SSPC C-1, C-3, and C-5 courses, and is an approved instructor for the NACE CIP Program. He also serves as an instructor for a variety of KTA-offered training seminars. In his current position, Rich performs coatings evaluations, coating failure analysis, specification preparation, expert witness, and project management services for clients in the transportation, power generation, water/wastewater, shipping, marine, and aerospace industries. He has served as Project Manager/Inspector Supervisor on projects that involved surface preparation and repainting of highway bridges for DOTs and has performed coating evaluation assessments for ground and elevated potable water storage tanks. Rich holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, and an MS in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. | Contact Me