News

For Nuclear Enterprise Assurance Site Representative Jonathan Ibarra, Armed Forces Day is more than a date on the calendar; this day is a profound opportunity for reflection and appreciation, a day to honor the immense sacrifices made by service members past and present, and a chance to recognize the unwavering commitment required to protect our nation.

Ibarra's journey into service was sparked by patriotism and a desire to make a greater contribution. He began his U.S. Air Force career as an aerospace ground equipment technician, inspecting, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing diverse ground support equipment essential for aircraft operational readiness. As his career advanced, Ibarra took on leadership positions, supervising both the production support section and later the inspection, repair, and maintenance groups.

Ibarra fondly recalls his time stationed in Japan. It was there that he experienced not only an incredible cultural immersion but also the chance to become part of an extraordinary team.

"We were a group of individuals relentlessly dedicated to our mission, fostering an environment where everyone pushed each other toward excellence," Ibarra said.

He credits exceptional leaders during this period for providing invaluable lessons, support, and challenges that fostered his professional and personal growth. The lessons learned about teamwork, leadership, resilience, and adapting to adversity in Japan have profoundly shaped who he is today.

Now in the Air Force Reserve, he continues to leverage his expertise as a quality assurance inspector, focusing on evaluating maintenance processes, technical order compliance, and overall operational effectiveness.

The transition to a full-time role at Pantex, though, marked a significant evolution in Ibarra's commitment.

"My initial years on active duty were defined by the direct, immediate demands of military operations," Ibarra explained, highlighting the constant state of readiness, strict adherence to schedules, and the military chain of command. "Now, with my role at Pantex, the focus shifts to comprehensive, long-term systemic integrity, ensuring the highest levels of safety, security, and reliability for critical national assets. It’s less about the immediate ‘fix’ and more about the rigorous evaluation, continuous improvement, and the meticulous application of standards."

Leaving active duty was a difficult choice, but Ibarra was driven by a strong sense of purpose and pride in contributing to national security. Ultimately, it was a natural progression, transitioning his dedication from aircraft readiness to ensuring the safety and security of our nation's strategic assets.

"When I learned about Pantex and its critical role in the nuclear deterrent, I immediately recognized an opportunity to continue that sense of mission and purpose," he said.

The military instilled in Ibarra a wealth of skills and lessons he carries into his everyday life, both at home and at Pantex.

“Leadership and teamwork stand out as particularly significant; the importance of actively collaborating, truly listening to diverse perspectives, and effectively guiding processes is paramount in any successful endeavor,” he said. “These core principles not only define my approach to my work at Pantex but also influence my interactions and responsibilities in my personal life.”

Pantex received two awards for its life-saving blood donations efforts in 2025

The Coffee Memorial Blood Center mobile donor RV has been a mainstay at Pantex for decades… making it a convenient place to step up, lie down, and literally offer up a part of yourself to help save a stranger’s life.

For the second year in a row, Pantex has been recognized by the Coffee Memorial Blood Center as the top entity for blood donations across the entire High Plains region with 920 units of blood collected in 2025. The city of Dumas came in second, registering 635 units through their united drive efforts.

Pantex Administrative Support Assistant Sandra Lightfoot said, “This is the second year with Coffee Memorial doing awards that Pantex has been recognized as the No. 1 overall within our area for producing blood donations; Pantex was also No.1 in the Business Category that Coffee Memorial recognized.”

The Coffee Memorial Blood Center is an integral part in blood donations across the area and is part of Our Blood Institute (OBI) — the sixth-largest independent blood center in the nation, with 17 donor centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas providing blood for more than 240 hospitals, medical facilities, and air ambulances across all three states. Coffee Memorial provides blood and blood products to the hospitals and medical facilities to all major hospitals in the High Plains region.

“The team at Pantex went above and beyond, hosting over 30 blood drives and collecting 920 units. This isn't just a number on a spreadsheet — it represents over 2,760 lives touched right here in our local communities,” Frausto Austin, senior account manager at Coffee Memorial Blood Center said.

Pantex averages three drives per month, with one at the PAC, JCDC, and Building 12-70 cafeteria parking lots. In the months of April, October, and December Pantex will host four blood drives, and this year the goal is 1,000 units of donated blood.

“If everyone would look at this act of giving just one unit of blood is that they are a hero and in fact saving a life. This simple selfless act gives a gift of hope in more ways than just one unit of blood. I would like to challenge everyone to donate if not every 59 days then at least four times a year. We need to average 62 units a month to meet that mark,” Lightfoot said.

When the fog clears and the strobe lights fade, Javier Meza steps into the ring with all the weight and expectations that come with being a national boxing champion. El Gallito, as he’s known by his followers, knows he’s ready for what comes next, a confidence that comes from constant training, dieting, and a tenacious desire to succeed. The rest is simply execution.

When the fight’s over and the confetti falls to the mat, the referee lifts Javier’s fist into the air again, signifying yet another victory for El Gallito. As he embraces the moment, he looks for the person in the cheering crowd, the one who’s been there since Javier first laced up his gloves – mom.

Mary Meza, an issues management specialist for the Pantex Infrastructure team, believed in El Gallito long before he’d earned the nickname and long before the famed Golden Boy Promotions offered him a professional contract. To her, he was her little boy.

Her time at Pantex has proven that the success of her son is no accident, and watching her work leaves little doubt as to where Javier gets his passion and drive. In her role, Mary helps to identify causes of certain events and helps to create action plans to reduce recurrence of those events. Supporting the mission is something Mary enjoys in her work, but her day doesn’t stop once she leaves the site. Once home, a similar mission continues – guiding her family to success.

Mary and her husband have two other children at home – a daughter and another son. Like their older brother, excellence is the standard. While Mary’s youngest hopes to follow in his older brother’s footsteps, her daughter is applying her talents to the medical field with aspirations of becoming a pediatric nurse.

In the meantime, Mary does what it takes to help Javier realize his childhood dream.

“I’ve always enjoyed the sport myself,” she said. “Back in 2010 my husband and I started training for exercise. The owner approached us saying he was about to start a kid’s class and wanted to know if we were interested. He started with just mitts and stuff with Javier who was eight at the time. I took him to a few more classes and the owner approached us again saying he wanted to train our son.”

What would come next was a whirlwind that neither Mary nor her husband would expect, including a rapidly learning and improving teenage boy with an insatiable desire to be a champion.

Since beginning his foray into the boxing world, El Gallito has been crowned a seven-time regional champion, a Texas state champion, and a national champion. He also made his Olympic trial debut in December of 2023, as well as earning his crowning achievement thus far, a professional contract with Golden Boy Promotions.

“People see all of the victories, but they don’t see behind the scenes; they don’t realize how much he puts into it,” Mary said. “I still remember taking turns with my husband getting up at five in the morning to follow behind him in the car with the headlights on him so he could run and still be seen by other cars.”

Despite all of the early mornings and late nights, Mary wouldn’t have it any other way. To her, the sacrifice pales in comparison to the feeling that comes from seeing her son do what he loves.

“You know, it’s pure joy and pride.”

But who would know that better than El Gallito himself?

“My mom is important to me because she has been there since day one,” Javier said. “She sacrifices so much for my siblings and me and she put her dreams aside for me to accomplish mine. God willing, I’m going to pay her back. I hope that she knows that I am truly thankful to have such an amazing mom. Her work doesn’t go unseen and I love her so much.”

As the Meza family prepares for an upcoming fight in Las Vegas, the work continues. On the mat, opponents fall one-by-one, and here at Pantex, Mary persists in doing her part to fulfill the mission. And when the day comes that the name “El Gallito” flashes in big golden letters on an arena in one of the world’s largest cities, Mary Meza won’t see him as anything different, just her little boy accomplishing his dream – Javier.

AMARILLO – Pantex, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s High Explosives Center of Excellence for Manufacturing, kicked off a new era of weapons maintenance and surveillance today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new High Explosives Science and Engineering (HESE) facility.

“The HESE is yet another important upgrade in our continued investment in modern technology,” Pantex Production Operations Division Director Carl Beard said. “The facility serves as another critical piece in fortifying Pantex’s role within the Nuclear Security Enterprise.”

The structure opened in May 2026 for operations; just over five years after construction began in November 2020. The HESE allows Pantex to continue to fulfill its vital role today, while positioning itself for the future.

"The new High Explosives Science and Engineering facility is a landmark achievement, setting an unprecedented standard for high explosives research and development crucial to national security,” PanTeXas Deterrence President and General Manager Kelly Beierschmitt said. “This state-of-the-art facility not only exemplifies American ingenuity but also demonstrates our unwavering commitment to mission success. My sincere appreciation to all the Pantexans and others who made this happen."

The new facility combines activities performed at 15 aging facilities, and refines the space for the development of technology supporting the plant’s weapons maintenance and surveillance mission. The building consolidates several groups under one roof, allowing for more efficient collaboration.

“The HESE will enable Pantex to continue delivering on our mission to provide the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile to the Department of War in support of national and global security,” said Pantex Field Office Manager Jason Armstrong. “This facility will also allow us to optimize for tomorrow as we develop new and innovative ways to accommodate and meet future weapon modernization and production demands.”

###
PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC (PXD) is the management and operating contractor for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Pantex Plant located in Carson County near Amarillo, Texas. Pantex maintains the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. PXD is a joint venture led by a BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) subsidiary – it also includes Fluor; SOC, A Day & Zimmermann Company; and The Texas A&M University System.

For more information on Pantex, visit www.pantex.energy.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Ashlee Estlack
Communications
(C) 806.662.4687
ashlee.estlack@pantex.doe.gov

In Liz Baumgardner’s family, you’re either a nurse or a mechanic... but tuning up cars didn’t sound as rewarding as tuning up people.

"I was a rebel and didn’t want to be a nurse," Baumgardner said. "But after helping my mom and sister study, and realizing I really liked helping people and talking to people, I saw that I could make a difference in people’s lives."

National Nurses Week is celebrated May 6 - 12 annually to recognize nurses’ invaluable contributions to society. Baumgardner earned her nursing license in 2010 and worked as a registered nurse in Amarillo for several years before coming to Pantex as a secretary in Explosives Technology. While she loved that job, Baumgardner felt a calling to go back to nursing. For the past year, she’s worked in the Occupational Health Services (OHS) clinic with great appreciation and empathy for the Pantexans she treats daily.

"I worked up North for three-and-a-half years, so I understand what it takes to leave work and come to the JCDC for a physical. Our site is so unique in the way that it is set up; I feel lucky having the experience working on plant site, because I can extend my appreciation for people showing up to our clinic to be seen and give them the best care possible."

Baumgardner’s day starts before 7 a.m. when she arrives at the clinic alongside her coworkers and gets all the medical machines turned on and calibrated before preparing to see patients. Patients come into the clinic for a variety of things, including getting labs drawn, performing physical therapy, obtaining hearing tests, and more. Medical staff also attend to any on-the-job injuries that happen.

"If you get stung by a bee, get a laceration, or get dizzy on the job, any of those types of things that could happen during your daily work, we are here to make sure patients are safe and taken care of in support of the company," Baumgardner said. "Our clinic has the capability to do a variety of things to care for our workforce."

Sure, Baumgardner loves the sunny side of nursing like taking care of others, but she also enjoys getting to give shots and performing blood draws... just not for the reason you think.

"Drawing blood is what I was most scared about when I went to nursing school," Baumgardner says. "I can be dramatic when it comes to needles — I’m terrified. But that’s what motivated me to be really good at it. I like to excel at things not everyone is good at. Now, I love starting blood draws because I overcame that fear so I could care for others."

There are four nurses, three nurse practitioners, and two physicians in OHS all working to provide a multidisciplinary health defense to safeguard our skilled workforce. Since it’s an occupational clinic, their duties are both similar and different from traditional clinics in many ways. Outside clinics typically deal with acute care, while nurses in OHS conduct long-term basic patient care and perform immunizations, flu shots, and tetanus shots when applicable.

"We all just show up and do what we have to do to take care of our patients," Baumgardner said. "We rely on each other. Everyone on our team is phenomenal at what they do. If someone is not there, the others pick up the slack."

Baumgardner said her team just wants to make everyone feel welcome — and feel better in the medical department. During National Nurses week and throughout the year, we thank them for their dedication to taking care of others.

"I love being a nurse," Baumgardner said. "The best thing you can do for someone that day is make them smile. If I did that, I did my job. I love helping people, and this career gave me the confidence to realize I’m capable of doing anything I put my mind to."

Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Eric Sandifer 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.

We all have someone we look up to, but Eric Sandifer looks down for inspiration.

"I have been most inspired by my kids," Sandifer said. "My youngest is a senior at Randall High and is about to graduate. All three of my children have really blossomed as they are entering adulthood and are finding their place in the world. It makes me really proud as a dad to see what they are doing and of the future they are making for themselves."

Sandifer learned during his time serving in the U.S. Army to find leaders he admired and to imitate and learn from them so he can provide a good example for others. This has clearly worked for his thriving children.

"I've done that my entire professional life," Sandifer said. "I try to be the example for others in my group that I mentor. It's vital to what we do. I want to pass what I have learned in my time here to the next generation of Environmental employees and keep the department strong."

Sandifer is an Environmental Projects senior specialist primarily working on the remediation of legacy contamination. After 13 years at Pantex, he says it's great to learn from others in the way they do things, but also recognizes that sometimes there are new and better ways to get the job done.

"When you first come on, you might have great ideas of how you can change and improve things," Sandifer said. "Pantex is a big ship and it takes a lot to change its course. Learn how your department and system works first, then suggest ways in which it can be improved. Learn how the wheel works before you try to build a new one."

Why is pride in the workplace and the work you do important?
The work Environmental Projects does is important because it fulfills regulatory requirements that allow the plant to remain operational. Pride in my workplace and what I do is what keeps me going when things get difficult.

What has been your proudest moment at Pantex to date?
My proudest moment at Pantex was when I was an environmental remediation technician. We had gotten all three of our facilities and all 70+ extraction wells operational at the same time. It was the first time ever and I am not sure if it has been done since. They are complex systems with a lot of components, so it was quite an achievement.

What do you think makes Pantex so special?
One thing I have learned is that pretty much everyone I have dealt with at Pantex has been helpful. Now, their answer might be “No” when you are trying to get approval for something, but everyone has been helpful in finding some solution.

Why is communication important for your team to succeed?
Good communication is vital in our group, whether it is between my colleagues, with my contractors, or with other people at the plant. It keeps us informed of what is happening, what needs to happen, and how what each of us are doing might affect other operations or projects.

What's your favorite outside of work activity and why?
My favorite activity is woodworking. I make and sell items at the Canyon Farmers Market, and I have made a lot of furniture for my family. I love the planning, troubleshooting, and completing projects. I love the process of knowing what you have, where you want to go, and figuring out how to get there.

Accounts Payable Clerk Monica Smith is a proud Pantexan.

Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Monica Smith work every day to support the Pantex mission. Take three minutes to learn about who she is, what she does, and why she is proud to be a Pantexan.

Everyone likes to get paid, including suppliers. So, you could guess Accounts Payable Clerk Monica Smith is pretty popular with those she serves. As a Finance employee, she ensures those who provide goods and services to us get paid – accurately, and in a timely manner.

Smith takes pride in knowing she plays a part in developing positive relationships with external partners.

"My involvement in verifying that suppliers are invoicing with integrity ensures the federal government is not paying more than what is owed and the providers are satisfied," Smith said. "A positive relationship is important to ensure Pantex has the resources needed to continue the mission."

While it may seem like finance is somewhat removed from direct Pantex mission work, Smith sees it as something more.

"Being a Pantexan means I am part of something bigger," she said. "The job I do day-to-day provides support to accomplish our mission for national security. When you look at the big picture, it is hard not to feel pride."

Smith said she is really glad she applied at Pantex five years ago. While she grew up in Amarillo, she never imagined there were so many people working at the plant or that Pantex would need positions like hers.

"I genuinely enjoy my job," she said. "It has its challenges, but it is also a great feeling when I am able to overcome those challenges."

Fortunately, it turned out to be a perfect fit, and she is only just getting started. Smith is working on getting a bachelor's degree in accounting to further her career and continue to make her mark on the mission.

Why is it important to hold ourselves accountable in our daily tasks?
Everyone is human and makes mistakes. It is important that we hold ourselves accountable to learn and correct those mistakes though. Holding yourself accountable prevents you from repeating the same mistakes in the future.

What is one thing your coworkers would be surprised to know about you?
I absolutely love college football. Texas Tech is my team, but I keep track of other college teams and individual players as well. It is not uncommon for us to have two or three different games on at once every Saturday in the fall.

What do you think makes Pantex so special?
There are over 4,800 people employed at Pantex. We all come from different backgrounds with different life experiences, but we all work together to achieve one mission. Each individual contributes to our success as a whole.

Members of Quality stand with the W88 team awarded the inaugural "The Standard is the Standard" award.

The standard is the standard.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin is widely credited with coining the phrase. During a press conference, Coach Tomlin was asked where that particular maxim came from. His response:

"I don't know."

There might be no better answer to that question. Such a credo isn't born off the cuff or from inside a fortune cookie. It just... is.

When excellence is the standard, the room for error is marginal at best. And now, thanks to a collaboration between Quality Product Verification (PV) and Production Operations, deep within the margins is now where the standard seems to be.

"During our review of unit folders submitted from Weapons Operations, we wanted to focus on the incidental defects that can potentially lead to nonconformances," PV Manager Jesseca Cook said. "We really believe that if we take care of the smaller things that the bigger things will take care of themselves."

Quality Assurance Specialist Nate Tucker went to work creating a tool. The result was a tracking system that allowed PV to identify and organize the type of defects that the Quality Assurance inspection technicians were identifying. PV then presented this data to Weapons Operations management who embraced the opportunity to effect change and reenforce the standard of excellence.

“We knew there had to be a better way," Tucker said. "My personal goal was to get to the root cause of these issues by really drilling down and tracking individual defects. And the impact? It's been incredible, not just for Operations, but for Quality too."

"Now we are able to evaluate incidental defects and associate the contributing factors to determine leading issues and reduce nonconformances," Cook said. "We've seen a 73% reduction in our incidental defects since we started this initiative. We're now down to just minor details which alleviates frustrations for both organizations."

The resulting data of the new initiatives is undeniable with the entire plant achieving a 0% total defect rate for November 2025, the first perfect month for Pantex in over three years. PV was also able to achieve its goal of reducing nonconformances by 20% for fiscal year 2025. This improved performance directly contributes to the success of the plant by reducing downtime, increasing production efficiency, and setting the standard for new technicians who will soon join the Production team.

The rapid improvement led the PV team to create "The Standard is the Standard Award," given to a team deemed to align with the standard of excellence and the commitment to a quality culture. A W88 team consisting of Production Technicians Thomas Havery, Steven Hernandez, Juan Hinojosa, Michael Jarocha, Brian Johnson, John Kelly, Isaac Rich, Paul Rodriguez, Brandon Sena, Brandon Shedd, and Austin Stashi was selected as the first recipient of the award.

"Even if you think no one is paying attention, doing the right thing, having that questioning attitude, and checking each other's work to ensure everything is done to the highest quality is always the way to go," Production Technician Isaac Rich said. "Support your team to your best ability because everyone on our team plays an important role in our end goal which is delivering working, high-quality product to our nation for its defense."

Coach Tomlin might not know exactly where his famous catchphrase came from, but the standard set by these two Pantex teams is the standard – unmistakably so.

"This award is an acknowledgement of the standard set by both Quality and Production Operations, and the amazing technicians we have here that rise to the challenge," Cook said. "I think it really gives confirmation to our NNSA customer, the Department of War, and our nation that Pantex is setting a high standard. It proves the excellence of the two organizations.”

Tech, tools, and talent - three components comprising a stellar IT division. Within lies a myriad of groups, each significantly supporting mission success in their own unique IT way. One such team uses a program designed to make everyone's life a little easier. This is Oracle Application Express, also known as APEX.

APEX is a software tool used to rapidly build and develop applications (apps). Compared to traditional development platforms, APEX is low-code, meaning users, such as members of the Pantex APEX team, are able to create apps with minimal coding, using visual interfaces and pre-built components. Still confused?

"Traditional development is like building a treehouse from scratch," Software Engineer Jon Jones said. "You have to design it, measure and cut the wood, and gather hardware, not to mention assemble all of it. With APEX, think of it like a Lego set. You have all the appropriate pieces and just need to put it together."

Building apps with APEX is a little more complicated than snapping plastic blocks together and requires some related skills. However, the point is that there is ease in the execution as compared to traditional methods, and with that ease comes benefits.

"APEX helps businesses create useful web apps much faster than traditional methods, saving valuable time and resources," Jones said. "It also ensures these apps are secure, reliable, and work efficiently with existing data."

Pantexans have swiftly adopted this revolutionary application-build method, as several significant and currently in-use projects used APEX. Major apps include the Dose Records Information System (DRIS), the facility e-logbook, and APEX pay inside all Pantex Pantries; however, service with a smile does not stop at successful deployment.

“After we build an app, our team remains actively involved by ensuring it runs smoothly, fixing any issues and adding new features as your business grows," Jones said. "Customers can count on us for ongoing support and a partnership approach to keep their application effective and up-to-date.”

Before you reach out to the APEX team, you need to consider some things to determine if their services could benefit you.

"Ask yourself about what's working and what's not, and what do you want to see changed," Jones said. "Dream big. Really think hard about what could make your day-to-day or other operations more efficient and effective. We will do our best to make those dreams come true."

If you have a request, you can submit an IT Project Request through the Service Catalog. On the form, please provide information such as a description of your needs, cost benefit, funding source, and safety and security impacts. The more details you provide, the better. Once you submit the request, the APEX team will contact you to discuss the project.

"We want to understand the struggles with their current solution and how we can help," Jones said. "If we think the project is a good candidate, the application will go on our backlog to get started on as soon as we can."

As a critical element to developing leaders, mentoring benefits both mentor and mentee. To encourage mentoring behavior and take leadership development at Pantex to the next level, Human Resources Talent Management introduced a 12-month formal mentoring program in August 2025. As the Pantex Mentorship Program nears the end of its inaugural year, participants reminisce about the program’s successes.

“The program provided a great opportunity for self-discovery and a deeper understanding of my own professional aspirations,” Rebecca Hatch, information security specialist and mentee said. “This experience reaffirmed a desire to consistently challenge myself and strive for higher levels of performance in
everything I do.”

The 2025-2026 mentorship program attracted 48 mentors and 104 mentees. Each applied separately and were assigned partners by Talent Management. The pairings were often from different organizations, based on common interests and availability.

Project Performance Analytics Senior Manager Justin Fox mentored several employees, including Hatch. Fox said the program offered him a chance to share his experiences — both successes and failures — and help his mentees avoid the same pitfalls.

“I wanted to be a mentor because I feel it’s everyone’s responsibility to use their own experiences to help push others further than they’ve gone themselves,” Fox said. “I believe a mentor is someone that is not only a sounding board and confidant, but also an advocate and sponsor of the people they’ve chosen to invest in.”

Through the program, mentors and mentees were encouraged to meet regularly to connect on topics such as goal-setting, feedback, effective communication, conflict management, and ethical decision- making.

Safety Analysis Engineering Analyst Madison Davis said she applied to the program because she wanted to push herself out of her comfort zone as well as learn from someone who is insightful and experienced.

“My mentor and I have gotten to know each other,” Davis said. “He mentored me by having one-on-one open conversations about the monthly topics and examples to help each of us learn. He has also brought me along into the field to learn about construction projects and fire protection engineering.”

Davis’s mentor and Projects Engineering Line Supervisor Luke Powell said he focused on establishing a comfortable environment where his mentees could tackle challenging areas, emphasizing mutual growth and positive intent in his coaching efforts.

“Like exploring a new playground, but with fences that protect you from risks of playing in the street, the program provided a structured framework and clear objectives, which helped formalize the relationship and ensure consistent progress,” Powell said. “A significant highlight has been witnessing rapid trust-building with my mentees, leading to tangible progress.”

With the successes of the pilot mentorship program, Talent Management plans to grow and improve the program next year to continue to build relationships and drive improvement in leadership development at Pantex. The pilot program was only available to non-bargaining employees, but, this year, Talent Management will be opening up the program to bargaining employees as well.