Pantex Blog

I am Mission Success: Cindy T.

Posted: Friday, October 25, 2024 - 09:15

Cindy T., personnel security senior associate
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.

I am Mission Success: David B.

Posted: Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 14:33

David B., project controls scheduler for Construction Trades
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.

The Organization Expo Series Strengthens the Aggregate IQ of Pantex

Posted: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 - 08:25

Pantexans learn about Mission Engineering at the Organization Expo.
Pantexans learn about Mission Engineering at the Organization Expo.

Understanding how each organization contributes to the mission is vital to fostering a sense of unity, enhancing operational knowledge, and establishing a strong culture. To support these efforts, the Organizational Expo Series was established—offering Pantexans valuable insight into the organizations at our site.

The expo took place from July to October and featured bi-weekly presentations highlighting key contributions of various departments. The goal of the series was simple yet impactful—help employees become acquainted with how different parts of the site operate in tandem for the greater good of the mission.

“It’s not always apparent how interconnected we are, but these sessions gave everyone a clearer understanding,” said Melissa Roy, director of organizational development and training. “It is vital to highlight the role of support organizations and their importance to the Pantex mission.”

The expos provided an excellent opportunity to showcase how departments fit into the bigger picture.

Jared Brown, director of facility and infrastructure operations, said he enjoyed the expos and valued his time as a presenter.

“The expo gave us a platform to share our challenges and accomplishments with the wider team, which helps humanize the work we do and build stronger relationships across departments,” Brown said.

Brown said the series will bring about long-term benefits, allowing Pantexans to “address challenges and find new ways to be more efficient.”

The primary focus of the Organization Expo Series was to increase the aggregate site IQ—a concept that refers to the collective understanding employees have of the site’s operations. A high site IQ allows for better decision-making, stronger collaboration, and an enhanced sense of belonging among employees. This initiative was a significant step toward shaping a more cohesive work culture where every employee feels their role is critical to the site’s success.

“The expo series was established to increase our combined site’s aggregate IQ and to allow Pantexans the ability to become more acquainted with how the site operates for the good of the mission,” said Pantex Site Manager Colby Yeary.

Attendees were equally enthusiastic about the expos.

“These expos have been excellent. Putting faces to the various organizations truly adds value and helps build strong connections,” Kyle Brack, emergency services advisor, shared. “The expos were incredibly helpful. Hearing about the different organizations encourages us to follow up with inquiries about tools and initiatives that could benefit our team.”

Brack also highlighted the importance of seeing the people behind the organizations.

“Learning about their initiatives has been a great way to explore valuable tools for our organization. I had no idea how some of the other departments functioned before this series,” said Brack. “It’s amazing to see how much effort goes into each operation, and I feel more connected to my work knowing how we all play a part in the company’s success.”

Another attendee, Natalie Waters, high risk senior specialist, reflected on her experience as well.

“I enjoyed learning about the different business and various functions across the plant,” said Waters. “It gave me valuable insight into how these functions are organized, funded, and contribute to the mission.”

She also appreciated how the expos provided opportunities for future collaboration.

“It was an excellent opportunity to identify subject matter experts I can reach out to for future questions or projects,” Waters concluded. “These expos have really opened my eyes to how essential each team is to our success. I now feel more confident in collaborating with other departments, and I appreciate the bigger picture even more.”

The Organizational Expo Series laid a strong foundation for increased engagement, cross-departmental collaboration, and a deeper appreciation of the site’s culture. As the final expo wrapped up, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many employees requesting more opportunities to learn about the work their colleagues do.

By providing a space for knowledge-sharing and collaboration, employees continue to strengthen the bonds between teams, foster a collaborative environment, and ensure every Pantexan feels they belong to something bigger.

High Pressure Fire Loop water conservation happens one drop at a time

Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2024 - 09:10

One of Pantex’s pump houses holds approximately 400,000 gallons of water
One of Pantex’s pump houses holds approximately 400,000 gallons of water. The conservation efforts on this pump house are saving 185,000 gallons of water per month.

Water is a precious commodity, especially in the Texas Panhandle, and actions taken to conserve water will impact future generations for years to come. At Pantex, the Environmental Compliance department focuses on a Department of Energy sustainability goal to reduce the overall annual water use.

“For the last few years, we tried to focus on finding projects that can be done easily to conserve water,” said Environmental Compliance Manager Alicia Barley. “We identified several different projects and have focused on the High-Pressure Fire Loop (HPFL) specifically for a while.”

Pantex has two water distribution systems: the domestic water system and the HPFL system. The HPFL system is made up of three pump facilities and approximately 20 miles of underground distribution piping, providing a dedicated water supply to fire protection suppression systems (also known as fire sprinkler systems) across the plant. In addition to being on standby to support fire suppression systems in a fire event, the HPFL also provides means to conduct various fire system maintenance and testing activities.

Environmental Compliance’s focus on water conservation happened to coincide with an effort by the HPFL System Engineering team to reduce water usage while still meeting its daily operational demands. The team’s conservation efforts focus on making necessary system repairs and improvements to reduce the system’s water waste.

One of the conservation efforts put in place is to reduce the amount of process water used with operating the system’s maintenance support water pump. Any time the maintenance pump runs without flowing water to support maintenance activities, the pump discharges water to drain which prevents internal damage.

“Before the upgrades we made to the maintenance pump, we had to manually start and stop the pump each day, resulting in the pump running continuously all day, every day discharging a large amount of water to drain,” said Colton Mooney, HPFS system engineer. “Now, with the ability to remotely start and stop the pump, it can be specifically run when it is needed for maintenance activities. Thanks to the maintenance personnel and support from Facility Engineering, this improvement has resulted in an approximate 50% reduction (or an average of 185,000 gallons of water saved) per month just by utilizing the pump only when it is needed.”

The work the team is doing to conserve water becomes more important every year.

“We are seeing the climate change over time and we can expect longer seasons of drought,” Barley said. “Any time we can conserve water, we need to make it a priority.”

The HPFL water conservation efforts began several years ago when the team identified the need to measure the system’s leaks and to reduce the amount of water wasted to perform its own system inspection and testing requirements. In 2018, the HPFL was equipped with flow meters, which are used to measure the amount of water that is being lost from the system, providing the team with the ability to quantify its water losses within the distribution piping and supported fire systems.

“The average municipality leaks about 10% of their daily water usage,” Mooney said. “Our current leak rate on the HPFL is approximately 20 gallons per minute, which sounds like a lot, but considering the size of our system and all the fire systems we support, we actually have a very tight system. With the ability to measure the leak rate, we can now see issues and react.”

In addition to monitoring leaks, the HPFL team has future pump facility upgrade plans which will provide the team with the ability to recapture the water used and reduce the water needed to perform its required quarterly, annual, and 5-year inspections and tests.

“Right now, in order to perform our quarterly and annual requirements at all our pump facilities each year, we have to discharge a combined total of approximately 465,000 gallons of water to the ground. Every 5 years, we are required to conduct an internal tank inspection at each of our facilities,” Mooney explained. “With our facility improvements, we will have the ability to recapture all of the 465,000 gallons of water wasted annually. For the 5-year inspections, we’re looking into bringing in remotely operated vehicles or divers to conduct those inspections instead of draining the tanks.”

All Pantex employees can do their part to save the precious resource, one drop at a time. These changes are great steps forward to conserve water at the plant and move the facility closer to the DOE sustainability goal target of reducing water use intensity 50% by 2030 from the 2021 baseline.

Employees got an inside look at what makes the pump house work
Employees got an inside look at what makes the pump house work during a recent employee infrastructure tour.

I am mission success: Josh Horner

Posted: Friday, October 11, 2024 - 16:21

In an environment like Pantex, the old adage “you don't know what you don't know” can create angst ––both for new employees and for seasoned employees who are constantly learning new things. Creating an environment built upon trust can lessen the burden and lead to great relationships, especially when learning through mistakes.

Making a mistake is hard, but owning up to it is even harder.

“Owning up” is exactly what Josh H. believes that people should do when mistakes are made –– even when it isn't the easy thing to do. In fact, Josh, who has been at Pantex for 13 years, encourages people to take ownership over everything they do.

“The experience will grow your problem–solving skills, and you will earn the reputation of a person that is caring and reliable,” said Josh. “Find the right people to call when you run into problems outside your area of expertise, and treat them well.  If you do that long enough, you'll have a host of people ready and willing to support you when you find yourself in need.”

Josh, who was an electrician by trade when he joined the Pantex team, now leads a team who works with engineers on ways to improve systems around the plant.

How has teamwork allowed you to grow as an employee?

I'm not a natural team player. Early on in my career, I thought that meant that I was capable and independent. When I took the position that I'm in now a few years ago, I became overwhelmed with all the responsibilities that I assumed were mine alone to bear. A few key people –– my excellent supervision team and our integration lead –– showed me the value of trusting good people to do their job well.  I learned that thinking I was an island was not only naïve and vain but was also depriving me of the best tools in my tool belt.

What stands out to you about Pantex?

It is always going to be the people for me. The quality of people out here, the quality of craftworkers we have, is exceptional. We have incredibly thoughtful and intelligent people that work out here who show a lot of dedication to the mission at whatever level they can support it. It is sometimes hard for me to relay the big mission we have out here, but the people here take great care of their daily customers' business and personal needs. I've seen people take care of each other out here.

Why am I mission success?

Any success I have had that is not attributed to my team would be because I deeply care about what I do. I take ownership of what my team is responsible for.

I was an electrician before, and that's how I started at Pantex. I loved that I provided a service to people that they were happy with. When I started out here, I got to do the same thing, but it was the same customers over and over, so I built great relationships.

I don't get to do hands–on work anymore, but I do still get to provide service to a lot of people here, and all that service we provide to one another adds up to the big mission we have.

Give an example when teamwork has helped you in your role.

Every success I've had at Pantex is owed to a team, especially the latest project we were assigned. Luckily, my management, the supervisors that work for me, the men and women that work for them, and the engineers at Pantex are incredibly good at their jobs. They provided the tools, means, and drive required to meet those goals and then proceeded to exceed them. I'm proud that I got to be part of that team.

Who in your life has inspired you most and why?

My wife. She is the most intelligent, thoughtful, and responsible person I have ever known. She is a better parent and spouse than I will ever be, and she models how to do it right. She is reliable, loving, and encouraging. She gracefully teaches me to be better and provides me with the means to improve myself.

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