Pantex Blog
Names in stone, memories in heart
Lance Cpl Chad Robert Hildebrandt. Memorial stone outside the Hildebrandt residence. The stone is a replica of a memorial located in Springer, N.M.
This article is a personal reflection on Memorial Day, written by Public Affairs Specialist Amberly Winningham.
For many, Memorial Day is a welcome day off to cook out or relax by the lake with family and friends. I will always remember it, however, as a somber reminder of the day I watched my parents being handed a neatly folded American flag as I listened to taps and watched a community mourn the loss of a 22-year-old hero — my big brother.
Lance Cpl. Chad Robert Hildebrandt — my “Bubba” — was killed in action Oct. 17, 2005, during Operation Iraqi Freedom in a combat operation against enemy forces in Al Rutbah, Iraq.
The death of a loved one to combat would understandably hit anyone hard. As a 10-year-old baby sister who idolized her big brother, it utterly changed my life.
After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Chad made the decision to join the United States Marine Corps. Just days after graduating high school in 2003, Chad left for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
By the time he departed on his second tour to Iraq in 2005, I knew the dangers my Bubba would face, but you’re never prepared for the worst.
On a sunny, brisk fall afternoon, two Marines walked up our driveway to tell us Chad had given the ultimate sacrifice; the neighboring small New Mexico communities where we lived halted everything to honor him — a small-town hero.
From the hundreds of people in attendance at Chad’s funeral to the groups of people lined up and down Interstate 25 to pay respect as Chad made his final drive, the honor and respect felt was indescribable.
While I lost my brother, the Marines who accompanied him every minute of every day to his final resting place also lost a brother.
I often think about the pain and sadness my brother’s Marine friends felt during those days and how they feel now. I hope they know how much I appreciate their dedicated service in honoring Chad.
We’re approaching the 20-year anniversary of his death and my family still finds coins on Chad’s grave. (Leaving coins indicates a specific connection the visitor had to the deceased.) It’s a bittersweet reminder that my brother continues to be remembered two decades later.
On this Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who gave their lives to fight for our freedom. I also take time to remember those who made it home but lost someone with whom they fought.
Memorial Day will always bring me waves of memories. But, it’s ultimately a day to be thankful and to celebrate the sacrifices given by the noblest and bravest among us — and enjoy that extra burger or hot dog. My Bubba would approve.
Carla Nelson named Administrative Professional of the Year
Carla Nelson is the winner of the 2025 Pantex Administrative Professional of the Year Award.
It’s nearly impossible to overestimate the influence administrative professionals have in the workplace. Solving problems, keeping teams organized, and wrangling schedules are just a few of the many daily tasks these professionals take on – often with little to no accolades.
Every year, Pantex celebrates administrative assistants by recognizing their achievements and contributions. This year, Carla Nelson, senior support for both Environment, Safety, and Health, and Infrastructure and Modernization, was announced as the 2025 Administrative Professional of the Year.
“Carla’s dedication is exemplified by her willingness to support these many groups and she does so with the best of attitudes,” said Harry Gulley, Environment, Safety, and Health division director. “If you ask her coworkers, you will hear the same replies — on-time, hard-working, sets the example, and dedicated. What would we do without her?”
Nelson started at Pantex in 2018 as a division training officer and transferred to her current role in 2021. She has also been serving as a telephone operator in the Emergency Response Organization for many years.
“Carla is always thinking of the employees and how to help them get their jobs done effectively and efficiently,” said Jimmy Rogers, executive officer for Environment, Safety, and Health. “She is here to make Pantex successful. She is never too busy to come in person and discuss a problem or request and never issues a final answer of ‘I don't know.’”
Rogers said that on top of all the incredible tasks she accomplishes with exceptional professionalism every day, she is always helping train others. Not to mention, it is in Carla’s nature to keep up with birthdays, make cookies, and work to keep team morale high.
“She truly cares and takes the time to mentor others to ensure each division is successful in their contribution to the Pantex mission,” Rogers said.
To Nelson, an administrative professional plays a key role in enhancing operational efficiency, providing customer service, and contributing to the overall success of the organization. She’s part of the glue that helps hold her organizations together.
“Embracing my heart for service has helped me become more open-minded, a better listener, a team player, and an independent worker, which I think makes me a better Pantex citizen,” Nelson said. “Working in the profession has also provided me with proof that I can be resourceful, organized, and professional.”
When she found out she was being recognized, Nelson immediately felt gratitude to her nominating managers, Harry Gulley and Jimmy Rogers, and the judges.
“My success is a direct result of the collaboration and support of my team and colleagues, who I want to thank as well,” Nelson said. “When you love what you do and have great leaders surrounding you, coming to work is enjoyable.”
Wildfire season sparks emphasis on safety, planning
When you’re a firefighter in the Texas Panhandle, knowing how to fight wildfires is a critical skill – one that Fire Captain Blake Crockett has spent decades honing.
“Wildfires are very unpredictable in their nature,” Crockett said. “There are all kinds of variables that will affect the fire, the movement, and growth.”
Crocket noted that wildfire season in the Panhandle generally extends from around November through April. While the peak season is February and March, that can extend when the combination of warming temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds occur while grass fuels are cured.
When fire conditions are right, eliminating all activities that could initiate a spark is important. This can include driving vehicles in tall grass, grinding or welding, or even dragging metal chains which can easily spark and ignite a fire that could spread rapidly and resist control. Stay aware of local conditions and ensure you have a method to receive warning notifications. During periods of increased risks of fire danger, the National Weather Service can issue a red flag warning.
“A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly, and people need to be vigilant and take precautions,” Crockett said. “High temperatures and more extreme values of low relative humidity, in addition to high winds, can create favorable weather for rapid fire growth and spread.”
Crockett says the Texas Panhandle is a unique region because the adjacent plains areas have a distinctive geography that contributes to high wildfire frequency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency categorizes the wildfire risk in the region as moderate with high frequency. The region is semi-arid, which means it is relatively dry and lacks trees, but enough moisture exists to support vast grasslands. These grasslands provide a fuel source that burns very easily and allows for rapid spreading in dry conditions.
“Fire is a natural part of our environment and will never go away,” Crockett said. “People need to be proactive and mitigate the risks when there is no fire threat, rather than to be reactive and try to save their property and livelihood at the last minute. It is never too early to prepare for what is inevitable. It’s not if but when a wildfire will happen.”
Whether you’re at work or at home, the key to wildfire safety is the same: preparation. If a wildfire approaches, have a plan in place. Pantex Emergency Management Specialist Stacie Pahl says proactive safety measures increase survivability outcomes during emergency evacuation situations.
“We all put ourselves in a better situation by simply taking time to consider and prioritize our own readiness,” Pahl said. “This can be done by registering for or signing up to receive local emergency alert notifications; knowing evacuation and egress routes from home, school, work, and office locations; preparing an emergency supply kit; having a family plan; etc.”
On high-fire probability days, Pahl recommends charging your phone, fueling your form of transportation, and prepping a go-kit containing extra water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, first-aid kit, a small tool kit that includes scissors, back up charger, batteries, wet wipes, a dust mask, map and compass, and any required medications.
Both Crockett and Pahl agree: one of the most important tips during wildfire response is to stay calm.
“While it’s not necessarily easy, it is important to remain calm and collected during emergencies,” Pahl said. “Being frantic will only lessen the ability to communicate, think clearly, and remain safe during the wildfire.”
The Texas Panhandle gives striking views of the skyline, sunsets that stretch for miles, and acres of tranquil fields. But it also provides an environment inherent to wildfires. Stay safe, informed, and prepared to confidently respond if people, property, or the environment are in danger due to rapidly spreading flames.
Armed Forces Day: Ready for the call
Tyler White (left) and Mark McKinley (right)
In 1949, President Harry S. Truman established Armed Forces Day. Designated the third Saturday in May, this day is a joint celebration of all six branches of the U.S. military to honor all who serve. At Pantex, many employees remain enlisted. We honor these individuals on May 17 this year.
Enter General Counsel Tyler White and Physical Security Systems Senior Specialist Mark McKinley. White is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) for the New Mexico Air National Guard. McKinley is a Lieutenant Colonel and serves as executive officer in Readiness Support Program 5 in the Marine Corps. Each has a decorated, decade-spanning military career. Both served in Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, although they never crossed paths. Their military experiences differed, yet their motivation to enlist followed a similar thread.
“I needed help to pay for college,” White said. “I had an uncle in the Air Force and Air National Guard. He recommended I enlist to help with tuition as well as gain some life and career skills.”
McKinley has a family history of military service dating back to the Civil War, yet the blood ties weren’t primary motivators to sign up.
“I always wanted to join after I saw ‘Top Gun,’” McKinley said. “Later, that want included the need to support my family.”
After active duty, McKinley got into the oil and gas business with his engineering degree and ended up sipping Texas Tea at Haliburton in Pampa, then later with O-Tex and C&J in Oklahoma City until 2020. In 2021, he headed out to Pantex.
“I wanted a different life,” McKinley said. “The oil and gas business was 24/7/365. Pantex gave me time to be with my family. I love that about this place. You can’t buy time back later, and they understand that.”
After graduating from law school, White used his degree in the military as well as the civilian sectors, more specifically at the Idaho National Laboratory, where he worked on the federal side. In 2024, Pantex offered him a job and he made his way to West Texas.
“I feel like I had done everything I had set out to do in the federal civilian service and wanted to experience the contractor side,” White said. “It was time for a new challenge and I found it. I also found some amazing people. They take the mission seriously here and that’s infectious.”
White and McKinley bring their experience and expertise daily to impact mission success. While they are proud of that, there’s still a draw to the military. Benefits are quite the lure, but there’s also another pull, one that runs deeper than deductibles and tuition assistance.
“I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve been in the military longer than I haven’t,” White said. “I find it hard to imagine not serving. I have a couple of remaining goals including retirement.”
“The reasons I stay has changed over the years,” McKinley said. “At first, it was to serve my country and provide for my family. It evolved into wanting to double down on benefits, then into an uncontrollable addiction to stay part of the organization and fulfill a retirement.”
White, McKinley, and many other Pantexans work day-to-day to meet goals in both their military careers and the Pantex mission. When duty calls, however, they will gear up and set out to protect friends, family, and their nation. We can’t be land of the free without being the home of the brave. Take time on Armed Forces Day to honor those who continue to serve their country.
Pantex Proud: John Neusch
Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like John Neusch 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.
During World War II, Arnold Neusch was set to be part of the initial diversionary invasion of Japan named Operation Downfall. Scheduled to begin in November 1945, it would have been the largest and presumably deadliest water-based invasion in history. In August of that year, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrendered shortly after and the Allies cancelled Operation Downfall.
After the war, Neusch married and returned to farming, however, tough times forced him to turn to a different career. Although Pantex was not affiliated with the atomic bomb drops in Japan, Neusch felt a deeply personal association with the plant’s mission. Soon after, he started work there. His son, John, later followed in his father’s footsteps.
John serves as a System Administrator Advisor within Information Technology, and every day his job reinforces his passion for nuclear deterrence. It also serves as a personal reminder of what might – or might not – have been. However, those thoughts and his passion for the mission further fuel another feeling: pride.
“Only a very small group will ever be able to say they work at Pantex,” Neusch said. “That group has made an enormous impact for the country and world. And for me, I take pride in continuous improvement like discovering new ways to build technological resilience and minimizing downtime which, in turn, provides system availability for other Pantexans to complete their jobs.”
Neusch works in the Data Center. He’s amazed at how much it has evolved over the years, including the downsized yet more powerful technology. He’ll take every opportunity to show the facility off to anyone who asks for a tour. Yet his work satisfaction and Pantexan pride circles back to why he (and his father) decided to apply for a job at the plant in the first place.
“Identifying with our mission,” Neusch said. “Our lives aren’t on the line every day like the military, but in our own way we do serve our country, and I appreciate that. Each one of us has our own unique duty, but all of our organizations are interconnected. Like the butterfly effect, what we do influences another job and that influences the mission. That should be our focus.”
Who in your life has inspired you the most and why?
My dad. He came from very humble beginnings and survived the Great Depression and World War II. He played hard, worked hard, and prayed hard. Dad always maintained a positive attitude and strong faith in God.
Why are communications important for all Pantex employees?
We need to be able to effectively communicate our needs and any occurring issues. The more we explain what is happening and discuss solutions, then we can resolve these problems much more smoothly.
What is the top communications tool you rely on in your daily work?
Teams, meetings, and email. When I first started working at Pantex 37 years ago, we didn’t have email. Instead, we did interoffice memos – mail delivered twice a day to mail stops around the plant. Microsoft Office absorbed much of that.
How can communications make (or break) a task?
During transition, we gave PanTeXas Deterrence the Clint Eastwood tour of the Data Center – the good, the bad, and the ugly. We showed them things that were going well and also what needed to be fixed or improved, and we communicated the importance of those needs.