Pantex Blog
Health groups’ array of medical services supports both personnel and mission
Occupational Health Services staff at both CNS sites perform a wide array of services to support employees’ physical and emotional health.
Occupational Health Services employees may not typically be viewed as “front-line workers” for Pantex’s mission, the people who are part of this team embody the site’s purpose just as much as the protective force or technicians working the line. They’re part of a team that has served Pantexans for decades.
“Pantex is now the longest-running accredited clinic in [Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care] in the history of DOE facilities being audited,” Morris noted.
Having cared for employees’ health since the 1970s, employees might be surprised at the incredible range of services today’s clinic provides. They perform hundreds of physicals each month, on top of on-the-job injuries, job-transfer physicals, and hew-hire physicals. Morris regularly meets with Human Resources staff to project the number of those pre-employment physicals so his team can appropriately staff to address the demand.
“We have been able to give HR eight empty slots per day,” he said. “We fill the rest with reschedules, follow-up appointments, etc. On any given Monday, we could have 50 [return-to-work approvals],” Morris said. “Our case managers are really good at triaging those and flowing them to the providers. We get lots of calls with people asking, ‘I’ve got a headache. Do you have ibuprofen?’ And, we do –– we’ll take care of those things.”
Morris compared OHS to an urgent-care facility in town, stating that people may come in and say things like, “I’m having chest pains. Can you check me out?”
Such instances call for urgent action.
“About once a month, we will see somebody in [atrial fibrillation] or having a heart attack, and we’ll send them to the emergency room,” Morris said.
Not every request, though, is predictable.
“We got a phone call last week: ‘Do you guys do pregnancy tests?’” Morris recalled.
The answer?
“We never have before, but we will if the person needs a medication or medical test that may interfere with, or be a risk to a pregnancy.”
Luckily for Pantexans, challenges don’t intimidate OHS clinic staff.
“Professionally, [the benefit of the clinic is] the urgent-care aspect,” Morris said. “If you have a stuffy nose, you don’t have to suffer through it, and don’t have to go home and take
I am Mission Success: Brandon T.
Take 5 minutes to learn about Brandon T., Bay/Cell & Prod/Disposition project controls representative. This article details his role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture CNS offers.
Staying on budget and on schedule—two high-priority tasks that Brandon T. ensures in his work supporting portfolio and project managers.
“I work with the Integrated Project team to develop solutions to challenges that arise on multimillion-dollar and multifaceted construction projects and enjoy the collaboration of working with so many Pantexans,” Brandon said. “It’s truly a team atmosphere.”
Being part of a team is something Brandon is used to. He has been at Pantex for 3 years and previously worked for the Department of Defense, plus served in the U. S. Navy for 10 years.
On a daily basis, Brandon manages a spreadsheet that tracks all costs for the entire bay/cell portfolio –– which includes the design, build, and testing of the high-pressure fire loop, the Flame Detection System, and the updates to the Radiation Alarm Monitoring System in production facilities.
“Continually updating that spreadsheet and tracking portfolio costs makes it a continually moving target that must be managed constantly to ensure the budget does not get overrun,” he said. “Managing that makes me feel like my role in portfolio works toward keeping a successful mission.”
Brandon enjoys discussing the bay/cell portfolio and project costs with managers. He is always ready to defend and explain the numbers of a project to ensure accurate reporting. Making a decision and sticking with it is one way he has dealt with problem-solving in his role.
“Everyone has their own ways of problem-solving, but when it comes to making a decision, people tend to become hesitant and question themselves on if they have made the best decision,” Brandon said. “There are many ways to handle an issue, but it cannot be resolved unless you or someone else makes the decision on how to do it and sticks with it.”
Whether he’s solving a problem, laboring over a spreadsheet, or crunching numbers, Brandon is proud to be a Pantexan.
“I love having this great opportunity to continue my service to our country,” he said. “I see so many people at Pantex who want to serve our nation and protect our national security, making America and Amarillo an even better place to live.”
What has surprised you the most since joining CNS?
Coming from the Department of Defense, I wasn’t surprised with much of the security measures or quality checks, but how far in advance projects are being planned and managed to forecast expected costs from contractor to CNS support surprised me.
What is one thing your coworkers be surprised to know about you?
I enjoy helping my wife make candles! Shoutout to her and her company Scenter Stage!
What’s your favorite outside-of-work activity and why?
I enjoy going shooting! I picked up the joys of shooting when I was in the Navy and it has stuck with me since. It is a skill that always must be practiced or will be lost and there are always new skills to be learned or improved.
I am Mission Success: Liz B.
Take 5 minutes to learn about Elizabeth B., a Pantex senior administrative assistant. This article details her role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture CNS offers. Now included in the questions is one related to a CNS performance element (communications, teamwork, problem‑solving, accountability, interpersonal, technical competence, or leadership). All views and opinions are the employee’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of CNS.
In her role, Liz B. sees firsthand the difference her Pantex colleagues make through their attitude and dedication.
“My favorite part of my work environment is the people,” she explained. “We have great people in our organization who work hard, get their jobs done daily, and can laugh and joke while doing that.”
Being able to laugh and have fun helps keep Liz grounded as she manages tasks that range from mundane meetings and room scheduling to the vital, such as document preparation and managing organizational changes. Through the flurry of daily activity, having encouraging, dedicated, and hardworking people around her, Liz said, creates a more inviting work environment that makes everyone more productive.
“It’s nice to want to come to work every day and be around great people—because when people are happy, they work harder and you can see the mission being accomplished.”
What Liz may sometimes forget, though, is the profound degree to which she contributes to the positive environment she, too, enjoys.
“She follows through on every detail, and is a great asset to her organization.”
That’s how one colleague viewed her, and he wasn’t alone. Liz’s supervisor, Monty B., called her a “perfect fit” for his team.
“She is very proactive about reaching out to her mentors to learn the multitude of business systems it takes to run the office, and then is very willing to share her knowledge with others in the team,” he explained. “Liz is always willing to help others, and her contagious, positive attitude is greatly appreciated by those who work with her every day.”
For her part, Liz sees herself as just modeling for others the kind of behavior she would want in their place.
“I think my greatest strength is [my] willingness to help,” she said, also stressing the importance of putting pride aside when outside assistance is warranted. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help,” Liz continued. “Be your own advocate because there are plenty of good people out here willing to help you learn.”
A collaborative spirit and a commitment to continued learning—these are hallmarks of employee excellence and, as Monty pointed out, the outcome of this approach often enriches not only individual employees, but the entire organization as well.
“Liz has a talent for coming up with better ways to accomplish the work, so she is a great sounding board for ideas,” he said. “Pantex is very fortunate to have someone of Liz’s character and competence help us with the incredible mission we have.”
For much of her life, that incredible mission went on completely outside of Liz’s attention.
“I have lived … my entire life close to the Pantex plant and had no real idea how this place helped protect our country until coming to work out here. I have a new respect for what this place does for our entire country.”
Perhaps she was too busy with her previous career as a nurse over an 11-year span which saw her provide vital services to those in need, a facet of her professional life that has not changed.
“I enjoyed working as a nurse, and I enjoy my job here at Pantex now. I just like helping people and knowing that what I do makes a difference.”
Make a difference?
Indeed, she does.
Everyone offers value to our tasks. Why must we be open to learning and hearing from others?
No one is right all the time. No one is perfect, and there is always someone out there who has more knowledge who we can learn from. We have to be humble enough to ask, pay attention when we are learning something new, and be a good steward by passing the information along.
How has teamwork allowed you to grow as an employee?
I am very independent, but working here has shown me that it is OK to ask for help when I need it, and that I can rely on my teammates to help so that I don’t become overwhelmed.
What characteristics define a good leader to you?
A good leader is someone who can inspire people to work hard for them and get the best out of people without even having to try hard. They lead by example, setting goals and expectations, hold people accountable while still understanding and realizing that we are all humans who sometimes make mistakes. A good leader will never ask someone to do something they themselves wouldn’t be willing to do.
What is your top bucket list item, and why?
I have a long bucket list, but one of the things at the top would have to be going to Alaska and going fishing for king salmon. I love anything outdoors, and seeing Alaska would be amazing to me.
In your view, what about Pantex makes it a unique community?
One surprise to me is how many different backgrounds make up the people of Pantex. The people who work here are from all over the country, and it makes us diverse and unique, and it increases the strengths of Pantex as a whole.
I am Mission Success: Jim F.
Take 5 minutes to learn about Pantex employee Jim F. This article details his role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture that CNS offers. Now included in the questions is one related to a CNS performance element (communications, teamwork, problem solving, accountability, interpersonal, technical competence, or leadership). All views and opinions are the employee’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of CNS.
Linchpin––that term describes an object, function or process that holds together all elements of a complicated structure, making possible its operation or success.
Jim F. is just one of what he views as thousands of linchpins working at Pantex. He specializes in installing large commercial equipment across the plant, yet he sees his role through the lens of humility, as evidenced by one key memory he shared:
“There was an occasion while I was on travel,” he recalled. “I was picking up a rental car. The agent noticed I worked for Consolidated Nuclear Security. He asked me with a thick Russian accent, ‘Nuclear security? You must be pretty special. What do you do?’ I was thinking to myself, ‘Am I about to be followed? This situation could turn bad.’ I told him, ‘Not really, I just install commodes and roads.’”
“The true reality is,” Jim continued, “we are all pretty special here at Pantex because we are all vital to the mission, no matter what our job title is. We all make this place work.”
Jim’s share in this ‘pretty special’ place began in spring of 1994 when he was hired in Waste Operations.
The funny thing is that, despite having served his nation in the Coast Guard and proudly possessing a strong patriotic fervor, for much of his life, Pantex was nowhere on his occupational radar. Were it not for an early-career injury, he might have continued to pursue a career as an air-traffic controller. The unexpected turn of events has given Pantex decades of benefit from his personal and professional leadership.
“I did not have any intentions of seeking a job at Pantex,” he recalled. “However, it turned out some of my classmates and instructors worked at Pantex. My relationships with those folks led to an opportunity to interview for a position in the Waste Operations department.”
Key relationships combined with lots of hard work and dedication—these are reoccurring themes in any discussion with Jim, who has made the utmost out of these principles in both his personal and professional life.
Pretty special, indeed.
What is your top bucket list item, and why?
I would like to sail to Antarctica and pull ports in Australia and New Zealand on the way there and back. I have never been south of the equator. During my time in the Coast Guard, I served on a ship out of Kodiak, Alaska, that was capable of breaking ice. We sailed into the Arctic Ocean to escort research vessels into the ice.
What characteristics define a good leader to you?
There are a few virtues that I live my life by: trust, detachment, thoughtfulness, joy, kindness, courage, tranquility, focus, humility, wisdom, orderliness, generosity, gratitude, self-control, assertiveness, and integrity.
Share a lesson learned from a leader in your past. Why was this a good (or bad) lesson?
A good listener makes a good leader. Several years ago, I participated in a training for future managers. The plant manager at the time was listening to a discussion that my group was having. Later that week, he quoted something I had said during that conversation. I was impressed that he actively listened to what I had to say.
Who in your life has most inspired you, and why?
My wife has been my greatest inspiration. If not for my relationship with her, I would not be working here today. She encouraged me to go back to school and pursue a different path in my life.
Pantex Fire Department rolls out new technician award
Each department at Pantex is connected to every other department in one way or another. Some connections may be more obvious or well-documented, but support for other organizations is a common thread at Pantex.
A case in point is the Pantex Fire Department (PXFD), which depends on the highly skilled mechanics trained and certified to maintain emergency vehicles.
The emergency vehicle technician (EVT) program is vital for PXFD. Fire department apparatuses, the cost of which range from a few hundred thousand to more than $1M, are expected to last 20 years. With their sophisticated components, these vehicles require meticulous maintenance from EVTs to ensure they remain in optimal condition.
“Before [the EVT program’s] implementation, the PXFD faced challenges in maintaining operational apparatuses,” said PXFD Chief Mike Brock. “Since its inception, the EVTs have significantly enhanced the fire department's overall operation and readiness, proving to be invaluable assets.”
The EVTs at Pantex diligently adhere to maintenance schedules and manufacturer specifications to keep these vehicles operational, and they have become an integral part of the department's daily operations. The site’s six EVTs were recently recognized at a special luncheon.
Deputy Plant Manager Kenny Steward spoke at the luncheon and expressed his appreciation for the ongoing contributions of all the EVTs.
During the luncheon, the inaugural EVT of the Year award was given as a recognition of excellent performance. The award was created to honor an exceptional mechanic and department friend, one of the original EVTs, Roy Linton, who passed in 2020.
“Roy was a hard worker, positive, kind and above all else, a man of character. He approached his work with professionalism and took immense pride in ensuring our rigs remained operational, ensuring our firefighters returned home after every response,” said Captain Josh Brown of the Pantex Fire Department. “Roy was the embodiment of reliability and integrity.”
The 2024 EVT of the Year award went to Phil Davis. He was recognized for his unwavering commitment and dedication to excellence, reflecting Roy’s exemplary qualities and the spirit of this honor.