Materials play a significant role in the development and advancement o f engineered components and systems. This is particularly evident in the aerospace industry where critical component and system attributes o f weight, mechanical performance, temperature capability, manufacturability and overall cost drive the development and implementation of materials. Alloy 718 is a unique superalloy that was developed many decades ago, but has continued to fill critical requirements for current and emerging products. This material has a balance o f attributes that have made it one of the world's most utilized superalloys. Alloy 718 continues to evolve in engineering and design definition for specific applications through optimization o f chemistry, microstructure, manufacturing processes and advances in application designs. The lessons learned from the development, application and continual improvement of Alloy 718 need to be utilized as we seek next generation materials to provide similar versatility and longevity.