I am Mission Success: David B.

Take 5 minutes to learn about David B., project controls scheduler for Construction Trades. This article details his role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture CNS offers.

Balancing the priorities of different projects all at the same time is a tough task. Pantexan David B. does not back down from the challenge. He is responsible for the project controls on 83 construction projects active at Pantex, all in various stages of planning and construction across the site.

Scheduling is a key function in the position David holds in Construction Trades. He works with field engineers to plan out the work and tracks material, equipment, and permits. He checks in each week with construction management and superintendents, where they review durations, dates, and resources and update progress, ensuring that the team delivers as promised. Program managers come to these meetings to ask questions and set (and change) priorities, while project engineers manage issues and change requests.

A Pantexan for 2 years, David is proud to be part of the company.

“Everybody I know that’s ever retired from Pantex had pride in what they did and where they worked,” David said. “Of course, I didn’t understand how they were keeping our nation safe until I started working here. I think every Pantexan shares that pride to some degree.”

Teamwork and camaraderie are two things David values at Pantex.

“Pantex is a massive industrial site with thousands of employees, and it’s the teamwork between people and departments that makes everything we do possible,” he said.

David feels he contributes to mission success by supporting Construction Trades and working to revitalize outdated and aging infrastructure, “delivering as promised” a long and continuing series of construction projects.

“Updated facilities and equipment support the machinists, production technicians, engineers, chemists, and more,” he said. “Collectively, all of our work supports this nation and I feel honored to be a part of that.”

With every completed project, David sees another victory.

“I get to see how the incredible complexity of all the puzzle pieces come together, with different planning and execution, to complete the big picture,” he said. “Construction Trades does it all from classified conference rooms to creating additional office space, modifying areas to increase production capabilities, and making buildings safer for employees.”

David knows new employees may not understand the “why” behind the way things are done or the culture at Pantex. Having a questioning attitude is needed and helpful to getting acclimated.

“Asking questions can lead to seeing a problem from a different perspective or seeing the problem or solution in a different light,” he said.

The most surprising thing about Pantex for David? The size of the site.

He said, “I knew Pantex took up a lot of real estate, but this place is like a small city.”

A small city, with a big team, all working together to achieve mission success. David fits into that puzzle seamlessly.

What is your favorite aspect about your work environment? How does that aspect make you know the mission is being met?
We turn abandoned 80-year-old buildings into modernized office spaces that house the most advanced equipment in the world. We correct deficiencies in old areas so we can perform new production work. We perform abatements to make buildings safer for employees. Every completed project, like a little victory, lets me know the mission is being met now and in the future.

Who in your life has inspired you the most and why?
My grandfather Alton D. and aunt Nancy H. worked at Pantex for many years. My cousin is a nuclear engineer and interned here while attending Texas Tech. I feel blessed to work at the same place they did.

What is one thing your coworkers be surprised to know about you?
I used to have really (really) long hair when I was younger and I was a tattoo artist when I was in college.