I am Mission Success: Cindy T.
Take 5 minutes to learn about Cindy T., personnel security senior associate. 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.
With approximately 4,600 employees at Pantex, it is almost impossible to meet every Pantexan, but there’s one person who comes close. Cindy T. welcomes new employees by giving their initial security-awareness brief, congratulates employees who just received their DOE clearance by conducting their comprehensive security brief, and bids employees farewell when terminating their security clearance. This complex, lengthy process is a team effort that Cindy is proud to lead.
“It takes a village to process all clearances––from the applicant, to the processor, to the NNSA,” Cindy said. “Without one [member of the process], the clearance process would not work, so we have to trust and respect each other by providing the necessary information in order for an applicant to receive their clearance.”
Having worked just shy of 19 years at Pantex, Cindy has learned a lot of lessons, but having a questioning attitude is her biggest takeaway.
“When I first came to Pantex, I had come from another DOE site, and I thought all sites worked in a similar fashion,” she said. “I learned that Pantex has a very different mission than where I came from. So, I learned quickly to ask questions, and that saved me from some embarrassing mistakes.”
Pantex’s growth is the most surprising thing Cindy has seen in her time at the site. Each month, her team receives a report from the NNSA that details the volume of work that Pantex processes. Despite being a smaller DOE site, Cindy is proud that Pantex’s numbers keep up with the larger sites. She believes that this growth emphasizes the importance of the site’s mission.
“We respect our country and what it stands for,” she said. “Those who work for CNS, work towards the common goal of meeting our mission to help protect our country and [the people] who call this land home.”
Cindy feels that Pantex isn’t just a place where you ‘work’–– it’s a place where you can establish a lifelong career. In the short time that employees spend with Cindy, it’s easy to understand why she has a passion for her work. Her infectious energy as well as her commitment to security excellence and the CNS mission is contagious.
“We have a mission to provide national security for all who live in the United States. We have to be held accountable, or we could fail that mission,” Cindy said. “We are dedicated to the mission success of CNS by providing our customers with integrity, trust, respect, teamwork, and excellence in all we do to process security clearances, which is a vital part of fulfilling that mission.”
What work advice would you offer someone who is new to Pantex or Y-12?
Pantex is a place to work like no other. We are unique in what we do. Garner as much information and knowledge as you can from those who have been here a while, and have a questioning attitude. If you don’t know, ask. Follow all the rules, and you’ll be fine.
What’s your favorite outside-of-work activity and why?
Spending time with my family and reading a good book. I’ve just become a new “Nana,” and I’m enjoying that role wholeheartedly. Family is very important to me and was always something my parents instilled in each of us, so I enjoy spending as much time as I can with each of my three children and their spouses (and now, my grandchildren). I also enjoy reading because it takes me to some places I might never get to travel to and also provides me with relaxation.