Steven Counts

Experience

Steven is based at Element Huntington Beach, California, with more than 10 years of experience supporting aerospace, defense, transportation, energy, and industrial manufacturing clients.

His background combines technical expertise, laboratory leadership, and commercial strategy focused on solving complex engineering and materials-related challenges through testing, analysis, and cross-functional technical support.

Prior to joining Element, Steven held technical and laboratory leadership roles supporting failure analysis investigations, metallurgical evaluation, microscopy, and advanced materials characterization. His experience includes product failures, manufacturing defects, fracture analysis, material verification, and engineering disputes.
His technical expertise includes scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), optical microscopy, fractography, metallurgical analysis, industrial CT/X-ray applications, and qualification testing programs.

Before entering the engineering and testing industry, Steven served in the United States Army and later worked within a forensic and security laboratory environment, building experience in investigative processes, compliance management, and complex problem solving.
At Element, Steven supports both routine and complex testing programs across multiple laboratories and technical disciplines, particularly projects requiring cross-functional coordination and customized technical approaches.

Career Highlights

• Led laboratory operations and process standardization initiatives across multiple facilities
• Supported complex failure analysis and forensic investigations involving engineering, legal, and insurance stakeholders
• Expanded laboratory capabilities and technical service offerings, including advanced imaging and materials evaluation
• Worked directly with aerospace, defense, and industrial clients on high-priority technical and qualification programs
• Published and contributed to technical case studies involving machinery failures, turbine blade failures, fracture investigations, and materials-related failures
• Served in leadership roles within regional ASM chapters and technical societies
• Supported cross-laboratory collaboration initiatives aligning technical capabilities with client and operational objectives across multiple business units