Robert Spence has worked at Pantex for 34 years. His son, daughter, and son-in-law are continuing his legacy. Photo by Adam Baker.
The Spence family operates on a simple philosophy: True strength is built from the inside out. They understand that while physical endurance keeps them moving, it is their shared values and emotional resilience that anchor their commitment to one another — and to their work.
“We are very close and do just about anything together,” Robert Spence said. “My kids are hardworking, dependable, loyal, and great people all around. We all like to stay fit through exercise and eating right, so we can bump into each other at the gym, cook out at each other’s homes, or I go to watch the grandkids’ sporting activities.”
Strength and endurance go hand in hand. Robert has been at Pantex since 1992, paving the way for his family’s legacy with resilience and fortitude as the senior manager over production stores. His son Jared is a manager for Safety Analysis Engineering and his daughter Kasie Thomas is a health physics supervisor.
“Our family spans three generations of supporting national security initiatives,” Jared Spence said. “My dad and grandparents worked for the Kansas City plant many years ago and now having most of my family working at Pantex has a special meaning.”
Kasie’s husband, Devin Thomas, is an issues and records manager for the Project Performance Analytics group. While Devin married into this nuclear family, he has resilient roots of his own.
“What brought me out to Pantex was my mother, uncle, and grandfather,” Devin said. “Brenda Thomas, my mother, worked out here 40 years and has already retired. Robert Digby, my grandfather, retired from Pantex and was a pipe fitter supervisor. Dale Stapp is my uncle. All encouraged me to seek out a career at Pantex due to the opportunities and the chance to make a difference with the work we do out at the plant.”
Devin says it’s been great to actively see his biological and chosen family flourish at Pantex.
“It is always a joy to see each other succeed in various ways, whether it is a promotion, a raise, a successful project, or by seeing each other’s faces on TheZone.”
Some know Jared is his father’s son because of physical resemblance and shared last name; however, people may not know Kasie’s relation since she carries her married name — but she’s still proud to claim them as family.
“I have always been very proud of my father and brother for the career paths that they had chosen,” Kasie said. “After being in healthcare for five years, I decided to make a career change in 2020. I knew the work that my father, brother, and husband did out here was important. Coming to Pantex was the best decision I could have made.”
While Kasie celebrates her dad, brother, and husband, they all recognize that she is a powerhouse.
“Kasie hands down outworks all of us!” Devin said. “She is a very hard worker and a quick learner.”
In the end, strength is just the decision to keep going, even when it’s hard. The Spence and Thomas families continue by lifting each other up, figuratively, through the ups and downs.
“I always like to see my family succeed and ultimately be happy,” Jared said. “Working at Pantex provides the opportunity to have both happiness and success.”