The start of the New Year is a time for reflection and resolve. As I complete my first year as Editor, I would like to share with you some of the exciting things that have happened over the last year with Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance. First, as part of continuous quality improvement, a number of new initiatives were launched internally to monitor the quality, scope and standardization issues. Toward that goal, the JMEP Committee Chair, Dr. Sai Raj, established two working subgroups led by Dr. William Frazier and Dr. Dileep Singh. The editorial committee also unanimously voted to discontinue publishing Technical Notes to provide better coverage to full-length manuscripts. Improving the quality of the published manuscripts through better peer review of both research and writing has occupied much of our recent editorial effort as has our commitment to providing quick turnaround from manuscript submission to editorial decision. Discussions are currently underway to offer selective coverage to new and emerging topics that include, but are not limited to, strategic aspects of additive manufacturing that impact and are impacted by materials engineering and performance issues. These and other exciting developments are taking shape and I will update you on these from time to time.

Our editorial team has expanded with the recent appointment of two new Associate Editors: Dr. William Frazier, Chief Materials Scientist, Naval Air Systems Command, and Dr. P.R. Subramanian, Principal Scientist, GE Global Research. As we welcome Bill and PR to our editorial team we would like to acknowledge the services that Prof. Omar Es-Said and Prof. Narendra Dahotre have been providing the Journal as Associate Editors. A special note of appreciation is due to former JMEP Editor and current ASM Board of Trustee, Dr. Jeffrey Hawk, for implementing a number of structural and procedural improvements with our editorial processes. Many of the initiatives including transitioning to a complete web-based submission and review that Jeff put in place years ago have fundamentally altered how we conduct business today.

Supporting our new initiatives and day-to-day work are ASM managers and staff whose guidance and services are greatly appreciated. It would be fitting and proper to acknowledge with thanks Mary Anne Fleming, ASM’s Senior Content Developer, Scott Henry, Senior Manager, and the editorial staff, Diane Whitelaw, Bonnie Sanders and Ann Britton. Thanks are due also to JMEP Committee Officers, Chair Raj, Vice-Chair Lin, and Secretary Ohji, and the rest of the members for their services. I would be remiss in not acknowledging the key role played by our revered reviewers whose dedication to research and scholarship is valued and appreciated.

JMEP shall continue to expand its role to provide publication opportunity to those engaged in research on materials engineering and performance relevant to our industrial customers in aerospace, automotive, nuclear, renewable energy, medical device, and various other sectors worldwide. The journal shall continue to focus on relationships among fabrication and processing and microstructure, properties, and performance to maintain currency and relevance to the materials community. As we mark ASM’s 100th anniversary this year, we are confident that you will see our renewed commitment to quality and relevance reflected in the published manuscripts in the coming months and years.

Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year!