Pantex Proud: Garry Little
Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Garry Little work every day to support the Pantex mission. Take three minutes to learn about who he is, what he does, and why he is proud to be a Pantexan.
The minutia of everyday life seems irrelevant when staring down at the world from 10,000 feet.. Wind whips hair and skin, the deafening sound blending with the roar of the airplane engine. Feet stand precariously on the fuselage doorway edge. Hands let go – freefall.
Occupational Health Nurse Garry Little enjoys an adrenaline rush. For the majority of his adult life, he worked in emergency medicine. The field’s high-urgency, sometimes life-or-death nature provided that surge, but the constantly intense environment became too much. While Little still loves a good thrill like skydiving recreationally, he decided to change his career. Soon after, he was Pantex-bound.
“I really enjoy my role within occupational medicine,” Little said. “I never really thought about working at Pantex until I came across a job posting and asked some friends their thoughts. Their consensus was that once you get a job there, you won’t want to leave because it’s that great. I’m two years in. The people are amazing, and my friends were right; this truly is a great place to work.”
Little’s duties include routine physicals, audiograms, vision tests, vaccinations, and to assess and treat on-the-job injuries. Although it is not the high-octane intensity of emergency medicine, he still helps people, an act he thoroughly enjoys.
“I am proud to be a part of the Occupational Health Services team,” Little said. “Our part of the mission is to make sure Pantexans are healthy and physically fit for duty. We’re proud of that. Everyone has a job to do to make the mission successful.”
When freefalling from a different atmosphere, the unique perspective encourages different thinking. The sheer size of cities and countryside from that height may make one feel miniscule, but it may also inspire a new-found view, that of impact and legacy.
“Pantex is a staple of our community and a major role in our country’s security,” Little said. “Once I actually started working at Pantex, I realized just how important everyone’s job is to the mission. Being part of that purpose that helps keeps our country safe is something to be proud of.”
What’s your top bucket list item and why?
To become a licensed skydiver, then learn to base jump. There are some awesome places I’d love to jump from. I love the experience. There’s nothing like it in life.
Why is it important we hold ourselves accountable in our daily tasks?
Holding yourself accountable sets a standard that you will complete your daily task and do your job to the best of your ability.
What advice would you offer someone who has made a mistake in his or her job?
Own it. Learn from it. Grow from it and move on with confidence knowing that you will not make that mistake again.
How do our established procedures, administrative controls, rules, etc. help us in being accountable to PXD, Pantex, and our peers?
Having policies and procedures lay a foundation and give structure and guidance for all employees. Doing so prevents management from having to handle situations “as they see fit,” and instead hold everyone to the same standard and expectations.