This paper was developed from the remarks delivered to honor Don Thompson by the banquet speakers at the 40th QNDE meeting, July 2013. Don died peacefully at his home just days later on July 29th after a two year battle with cancer. “Don was a tenacious fighter for what he believed in, and his vision and perseverance did much to establish NDE in both the US and wider global R&D community. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and colleagues in the NDE community”.