Summary
John Neal is an experienced pipeline and construction inspection professional with extensive experience in quality assurance, welding inspection, coating inspection, and field construction activities. He has a strong background managing contractors and coordinating inspection teams across pipeline projects, including field audits, documentation audits, DOT records, construction turnover libraries, and regulatory compliance. His technical scope includes general welding inspection, welder qualification, weld mapping, material verification, coating operations, pressure testing, and NDE coordination. John has supported clients and contractors through project planning, construction monitoring, safety compliance, and inspection documentation. He is recognised for decisive leadership, strong written and verbal communication, and effective coordination with field teams, clients, contractors, and project management.
Education
- High School Diploma, Merkel High School, Merkel, TX
Qualifications and Training
- API 1169
- NACE CIP 1
- CWI
- OSHA 30
Work Experience
Jan 2026 – Aug 2026
TPI AGENCY
Quality Assurance Specialist iv
- Coordinated with field inspection teams to perform routine site visits for Core Complex and AMP locations.
- Ensured field inspection teams had a firm understanding of the specifications being used on their projects.
- Performed field audits of critical tasks, including welding, pressure testing, and coating.
- Performed documentation audits on DOT records submitted by field inspection staff.
- Reviewed finalized documents to verify the accuracy of records uploaded to construction turnover libraries for core projects.
- Performed general welding inspection, including welder qualification, weld mapping, material verification, and NDE coordination.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Dec 2025 – Jan 2026
TPI AGENCY
Welding Inspector
- Verified that all materials being used were approved by the client, United Refining.
- Performed routine parameter verifications on welders to ensure compliance with the welding procedure.
- Assessed contractor weld mapping, as-builts, and other pertinent documentation.
- Oversaw pneumatic pressure testing of the project.
- Coordinated with the NDE company to ensure that all welds were radiographically tested and accepted per B31.3.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Aug 2023 – Dec 2025
TPI AGENCY
Quality Assurance Specialist iv
- Coordinated with field inspection teams to perform routine site visits for Core and AMP locations.
- Ensured field inspection teams had a firm understanding of the specifications being used on their projects.
- Performed field audits of critical tasks, including welding, pressure testing, and coating.
- Performed documentation audits on DOT records submitted by field inspection staff.
- Reviewed finalized documents to verify the accuracy of records uploaded to construction turnover libraries for core projects.
- Performed general welding inspection, including welder qualification, weld mapping, material verification, and NDE coordination.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Jul 2023 – Aug 2023
TPI AGENCY
Welding Inspector
- Verified that materials being used matched the materials listed on the MTR by cross-referencing heat numbers.
- Performed routine parameter verifications on welders to ensure compliance with the welding procedure.
- Completed visual inspections of completed welds.
- Created as-built and red-line drawings for the project using Bluebeam.
- Oversaw hydrostatic pressure testing of the project.
- Coordinated with the NDE company to ensure that all welds were radiographically tested.
May 2023 – Jul 2023
TPI AGENCY
Field Crew Manager
- Coordinated with the Chief Inspector and Senior Welding Inspector on placement of NDE rigs for a 58-mile transmission line installation.
- Reviewed all NDE inspection reports before submitting them to the gas company to verify that the information was accurate in relation to the film results.
- Assisted the inspection team with weld mapping, weld stencils, and field weld locations.
- Performed rig audits to verify that each rig had the required safety equipment and that equipment was within required calibration dates.
- Performed general welding inspection, including welder qualification, weld mapping, material verification, and NDE coordination, when the inspection team needed assistance.
Apr 2022 – Apr 2023
TPI AGENCY
Chief Inspector
- Assisted the Construction Supervisor with scheduling and planning work.
- Verified and inventoried materials and other consumables in the construction yard.
- Attended daily safety meetings, issued work permits, and ensured contractors had the proper PPE for each task.
- Documented on-site inventory for received materials, including pipes, valves, and fittings.
- Verified that X-ray numbers were placed on pipe before coating application.
- Oversaw coating operations using two-part epoxy and Trenton wax tape.
- Ensured proper holiday detection techniques were used with the Spy Holiday Detector.
- Verified that equipment calibration was current and performed field calibration when required.
- Ensured ditch excavation, trench plugs, and ground cover were at the proper depth.
- Notified Environmental and Safety Inspectors of abnormal operating conditions.
- Recorded and calculated daily footage and reported data to the Construction Manager.
- Ensured that the work was completed safely and proficiently.
- Oversaw pressure testing of the entire project and the drying process and pig runs.
- Oversaw the project to ensure compliance with regulations applicable to the construction work.
- Performed general welding inspection, including welder qualification, weld mapping, material verification, and NDE coordination.
Jun 2021 – Jan 2022
TPI AGENCY
Assistant Chief Inspector
- Attended weekly project meetings to provide project updates and progress reports.
- Assisted the Contractor Management Team in coordinating successful completion of project milestones.
- Oversaw pressure testing and reviewed pressure test packages and final charts.
- Assisted the Chief Inspector with daily audits of reports, project visits, and inspection team coordination.
- Performed general welding inspection, including welder qualification, weld mapping, material verification, and NDE coordination.
Mar 2018 – Jun 2021
TPI AGENCY
Lead NACE Coating Inspector
- Attended daily safety meetings and issued work permits daily.
- Verified that all work was completed within company specifications.
- Assisted with as-built mapping and verified that piping weld numbers were mapped correctly.
- Performed multiple pressure tests on large- and small-bore piping.
- Oversaw coating operations to verify that the substrate met manufacturer and company requirements.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Oct 2017 – Mar 2018
TPI AGENCY
NACE Coating Inspector
- Attended daily safety meetings, issued work permits, and ensured contractors had the proper PPE for each task.
- Oversaw coating operations using two-part epoxy.
- Ensured proper jeeping techniques were used with the Spy Holiday Detector.
- Witnessed test leads being CAD welded to the pipe before backfilling.
- Verified that equipment calibration was current and performed field calibration when required.
- Ensured ditch excavation, trench plugs, and ground cover were at the proper depth.
- Notified Environmental and Safety Inspectors of abnormal operating conditions.
- Ensured that the job was completed safely and proficiently.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Aug 2017 – Oct 2017
TPI AGENCY
Lead NACE Coating Inspector
- Attended daily safety meetings, issued work permits, and ensured contractors had the proper PPE for each task.
- Documented on-site inventory for received materials, including pipes, valves, and fittings.
- Ensured heat numbers were correctly placed on and recorded for pipe.
- Verified that X-ray numbers were placed on pipe before coating application.
- Oversaw coating operations using two-part epoxy, RD-6 adhesive tape, and vinyl ester.
- Ensured proper jeeping techniques were used with the Spy Holiday Detector.
- Ensured test leads and anodes were placed in the proper locations before backfill.
- Verified that equipment calibration was current and performed field calibration when required.
- Ensured ditch excavation, trench plugs, and ground cover were at the proper depth.
- Notified Environmental and Safety Inspectors of abnormal operating conditions.
- Recorded and calculated daily footage and reported data to the Chief Inspector.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Jun 2017 – Aug 2017
TPI AGENCY
NACE Coating Inspector
- Attended daily safety meetings and issued work permits.
- Oversaw coating operations.
- Witnessed the contractor applying multiple types of coating across the project, including above-ground and below-ground systems for piping and other applications.
- Inspected substrates before blasting and after blasting to verify cleanliness and anchor profile.
- Verified that the contractor mixed coating in accordance with company and manufacturer specifications.
- Obtained accurate DFT readings after the coating had cured for the required time.
- Performed general welding inspection, including welder qualification, weld mapping, material verification, and NDE coordination.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Nov 2015 – Jun 2017
TPI AGENCY
NACE Coating Inspector
- Attended daily meetings with the inspection team to coordinate daily activities.
- Performed weekly audits of coating reports submitted by contractors and other inspectors.
- Ensured that contractors completed all work within client-provided specifications.
- Witnessed clearing of trees, right-of-way blasting, water crossings, HDD, and final restoration.
⚠ Review: employer replaced on AI judgment alone — verify agency status
Jul 2010 – Nov 2015
Foxfire Corporation
Quality Control
- Attended daily safety meetings and toolbox talks, including JSAs.
- Unloaded pipe and other materials from warehouses and supply companies.
- Checked incoming inventory for imperfections and defects.
- Strung pipe along the right-of-way.
- Built skid sets for the firing line.
- Set up and tied off ladders in the ditch for welders and X-ray personnel.
- Preheated joints for sandblasting.
- Coated welds with two-part Denso epoxy and R95 Power-Crete.
- Wrapped welds with RD6 tape.
- Operated the Spy Holiday Detector.
Skills
- Quality Assurance
- Quality Control
- Welding Inspection
- Coating Inspection
- Pipeline Inspection
- Construction Management
- Contractor Management
- Inspection Team Coordination
- Environmental Compliance
- Regulatory Compliance
- Integrity Management
- Corrosion and Cathodic Protection
- Supervisory Skills
- Leadership and Teamwork
- Natural Gas and Petroleum Knowledge
- ROW Understanding
- MS Office
- Microsoft Teams
Commodities
- Pipelines
- Piping
- Pipes
- Valves
- Fittings
- Coating Materials
- Anodes