News

The skyline around Pantex continues to change as work at the Administrative Support Complex progresses. What was a field of milo this time last year is now an expansive building that grows closer and closer to completion with each passing day. Currently, the ASC is on schedule, and several areas of the building are nearing completion.

With the exterior nearly finished, the work indoors has begun to ramp up. For example, on the third floor of the west wing, drywall, painting, the break room, and bathrooms are complete and will serve as the mockup for the remaining break rooms and bathrooms for the rest of the building.

Major mechanical equipment, such as chillers, air handlers, plumbing lift station, and electrical transformers, have now been installed, and the domestic water line between the ASC and Pantex is now in operation. Not only is the skyline changing but traffic and roads are as well. The acceleration and de acceleration lanes on FM 2373 were completed recently and will provide relief for traffic entering and exiting the ASC area.

Upcoming milestones include the completion of the overhead power and the exterior envelope of the building, which is scheduled to take place this month. This month, crews will begin installing furniture, and the parking lot should be completed.

With the progress comes more people working at the ASC site. The number of workers has reached its peak.

AMARILLO, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC has chosen four employees for its Fellows Program, one from the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, TX, and three from the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN.

The program recognizes technical staff members at Pantex and Y-12 who achieved status as a national or international expert in their field. Each fellow serves a renewable two-year term acting as the technical expert in their competency area and mentor to other staff.

Those chosen are Pantex Component Analysis/Surveillance Fellow Lorelei Woods, Uranium Fellow Glenn Pfennigwerth, Metallurgy Fellow Alan Moore, and Y-12 Component Analysis/Surveillance Fellow Vincent Lamberti.

Woods began at Pantex in 1983 and holds an A.S. in electronics, as well as a B.S. and M.S. in chemistry. With more than 30 years at Y-12, Pfennigwerth holds a B.S. in chemistry and a M.S. in chemical engineering. Moore also has worked at Y-12 for more than 30 years and holds a B.S. in metallurgical engineering and a M.S. in industrial engineering. Lamberti joined Y-12 in 2001 and holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. degree in physical chemistry and an M.S. in computer science and numerical computation. Each fellow will continue to support mission work at the sites, while acting as mentors to other staff.

“The Fellows Program is essential to ensuring technical excellence across CNS through technology innovation,” said Ashley Stowe, former Y-12 Googin Fellow and program manager for the CNS Fellows Program. “Fellows are the cornerstone of mentorship and set the example for others.”

In addition to these four fellows, four more will be named in 2018. Potential upcoming fellows could be named in explosives, lithium/special nuclear material, advanced manufacturing, electromagnetic effects, and nonproliferation.

CONTACT
Allison Roberts
Public Affairs
Office 806.573.0501
allison.roberts@pantex.doe.gov

Amarillo, Texas—Emergency response personnel from the National Nuclear Security Administration and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), will conduct an emergency management exercise August 24 at the Pantex Plant.

During this exercise, between 8 a.m. and noon, people in the vicinity of FM 683, between Hwy 60 and Sage Circle, and the Pantex Plant may observe response personnel simulating response activities as part of the exercise.

This event is part of emergency management exercises conducted on a regular basis by the U.S. Department of Energy Pantex Plant. These exercises test the ability of emergency personnel to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations, and ensure that the public, Pantex employees and the environment would be protected in the event of an actual emergency.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.com or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.

Starting a new job can be anxiety producing. The situation can be nerve-racking unless you have a “coach” to support you.

POLO group during their Second Annual Hike and Bike at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

For Trent Spivey, that coach was Courtney Waddell from Pantex Facility Engineering. Spivey spent considerable time awaiting his clearance in a trailer located just outside the protected area. Fortunately, Waddell stopped by regularly to ask how she could help make his transition into the company as easy as possible.

“Without Courtney, I would have known nothing about Pantex nine months after being hired,” Spivey said. “Coming to a place with more than 3,000 people that you don’t know, it helps to have a friend.”

Spivey learned about Pantex while attending West Texas A&M and as a student had the opportunity to take a site tour and meet with different managers. Once on board, he joined the Pantex Outreach and Leadership Organization, a group of early career professionals in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, where Waddell volunteered to be his mentor.

“Having a mentor to introduce me to the people I’d be working with put me further ahead than those who came in blindly. That’s the number one success of the mentoring program,” Spivey said. “The mentorship really plugged me in and showed me what I can be within the company.”

Spivey now is on the POLO social subcommittee, and he looks forward to one day passing on what he knows to other new employees.

Chris Whitmer is one of the original organizers of POLO. Since its formation in 2014, POLO has grown to more than 100 members who participate in various networking, social, and community events. At a recent networking event, engineers toured the inside of a turbine at the Pantex wind farm, and at another, they heard an engineer talk about career paths, technical versus management, based on his own experience.

“POLO gives new hires, especially those coming from areas outside of Amarillo, the opportunity to meet other people, which gives them a reason to stay,” said Whitmer, who is from Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Barbara Vertefeuille from Safety Analysis Engineering, shares Whitmer’s viewpoint.

“If people have someone to go to—someone to ask questions and point them in the right direction—they are more likely to stay,” she said.

Vertefeuille has taught training for the last 20 years and has mentored those who are working toward their Documented Safety Analysis qualifications. She focuses on the specialized abilities they need for the work and helps them understand their role.

“People need someone to help them progress in their job and lives. I try to help them feel comfortable and confident in their own abilities,” she said.

AMARILLO, Texas – Twenty nonprofits in the Texas Panhandle are better able to expand or continue their missions thanks to grants from Consolidated Nuclear Security’s (CNS) Pantex Community Investment Fund, administered by the Amarillo Area Foundation.

CNS, which manages the Pantex Plant for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, announced the recipients in its third round of charitable giving with funds totaling $175,000. The advisory committee gave priority to proposals from organizations located and operating in the 12 contiguous counties surrounding the Pantex Plant, which includes Armstrong, Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hutchinson, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall and Swisher. Applications for next year will be due in early 2018 through the Amarillo Area Foundation.

“We are very proud to continue our employees’ legacy of giving by contributing to Panhandle area organizations through the CNS Community Investment Fund, “ said Pantex Site Manager Todd Ailes. “Pantex has always been committed to improving and supporting our surrounding communities.”

The company announced the latest round of availability in March as part of its commitment to Amarillo and the surrounding areas. A Pantex Community Investment Advisory Committee of CNS employees reviewed proposals from area non-profit organizations. After evaluations were made, the committee recommended grant awards to CNS management and the Amarillo Area Foundation.

With this year’s grants, CNS has donated $471,000 to area non-profit organizations since 2015 through the Amarillo Area Foundation.

“Our relationship with the Amarillo Area Foundation has enabled our employees to engage in the grant process in such an effective way,” said Jason Bohne, CNS Communications and Public Affairs director. “As a company, we’re happy to partner with community organizations for the betterment of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle—where our employees work, live, and give.”

The advisory committee selected grantee organizations based on the following funding preferences and priorities: Basic Needs, Child and Family Development, Education, Community Development, Financial Literacy, and Health and Wellness.

Organizations and the funds they will receive are as follows:

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Public Affairs
Office (806) 477-6032
smyers@pantex.com

Amarillo, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) was recently honored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. The company received an award for Facility Management Contractor Small Business Achievement of the Year at the 16th Annual Small Business Forum and Expo.

The Facility Management Contractor Small Business Achievement of the Year award recognizes the tangible, annual, organizational results of a DOE facilities management contractor. These results are measured in terms of dollars and percentage increases in small business procurement activity as well as policies, programs and procedures that promote small business use.

CNS operates the Pantex Plant in Amarillo and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the National Nuclear Security Administration. For fiscal year 2016, CNS awarded 67 percent of all purchases to U.S.-based small businesses, exceeding a negotiated goal of 55 percent.

Scientific Sales, Inc., one of Y-12’s fiscal year 2016 Small Business of the Year honorees, also received an award as 8(a)/Small Disadvantaged Business of the Year.

For a full list of winners, please visit the DOE website: https://www.energy.gov/osdbu/annual-small-business-awards-fy2016.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

AMARILLO, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, the managing and operating entity of Pantex, recently received the Texas Workforce Solutions Local Employer of the Year Award.

The award annually honors one private-sector employer whose efforts and initiatives resulted in an extraordinary impact on the State of Texas as well as employers, workers, and the community in which the employer operates.

The award focuses on employer excellence and operational results that benefit employers, workers, and the local community and assumes a close partnership with and successful use of Texas Workforce system services.

Corey Strickland, Pantex deputy site manager, and Heather Freeman, Pantex Human Resources manager accepted the award.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

Engineering professionals across the nation celebrated Engineers Week—or EWeek—February 20-24, and employees at Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC joined the fun. Engineers from Pantex, the Uranium Processing Facility and Y-12 visited local schools throughout the week, encouraging hundreds of young people to make a difference in the world through an engineering career.

EWeek was started 66 years ago by the National Society of Professional Engineers to ensure student awareness of engineering and technology careers using real-world examples and education.

Engineers hosted a day-long event at area schools that included exposure to electrical, mechanical, structural and chemical engineering. The students rotated through stations that allowed them to build motors, catapults and towers and determine chemical separation in a column.

In additional support of educational outreach, February also saw the 2017 Pantex Regional High School and Middle School Science Bowls and at Oak Ridge, Y-12 hosted “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day,” at the site’s New Hope Center.

“Engineering is a major with a big up-side,” said CNS engineer Julie Cramer. “Engineers are in high demand, and, if you work hard through school, you will be able to enter into an interesting career where you can get paid to do things you would normally only do as hobbies.”

Some of the schools CNS visited during EWeek2017 week included:

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

Pantex security police officer Billy Hall was recently recognized as one of the best in the U.S. Department of Energy Complex.

Hall is the latest recipient of the Colonel Sydnor Award, named after Colonel Elliot P. Sydnor, who had a large impact in the modernization of the Savannah River Site’s Protective Force in 1983. Sydnor would go on to help develop the Department of Energy’s Composite Adversary Team.

Billy Hall (center) receives the Colonel Sydnor Award from Ben Bitonel (left) and Kerry Wisniewski.

In honor of Colonel Sydnor, the Office of Enterprise Assessments presents the award annually to a CAT member who demonstrates the highest level of physical fitness and tactical proficiency and exhibits qualities associated with superior character and leadership.

“The Composite Adversary Team represents the most talented Security Police Officers across the DOE complex,” Protective Force Deputy Chief Daniel Holmes said. “It is very difficult to be selected to be a part of the CAT program.”

Hall has been a part of the Special Response Team at Pantex for 14 years and is now an SRT captain. He said that the position has given him many tools that have allowed him to be a more effective leader for his team.

“Being selected for this award by my peers — from all of the other DOE sites — as the Colonel Sydnor winner is the greatest accomplishment in my career thus far,” said Hall. “Finally reaching this goal has been very gratifying and required much hard work, patience, dedication and love for what I do.”

The DOE CAT Program’s level of excellence is recognized throughout the worldwide nuclear security community, and Pantex has risen to the occasion before. Hall is the third Pantexan to receive this honor in the last 20 years.

Funds to be distributed through Amarillo Area Foundation

AMARILLO, Texas – Charitable organizations from across the Texas Panhandle are once again invited to apply for grants from the Pantex Community Investment Fund established by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS), managing and operating contractor of the Pantex Plant.

CNS established the fund last year through the Amarillo Area Foundation, as part of its commitment to Amarillo and the surrounding communities. Over its two previous grant cycles, CNS awarded almost $300,000 in grants to more than 30 local nonprofit organizations.

The Amarillo Area Foundation is announcing a Request for Proposals, and the CNS employee advisory committee for the CNS Pantex Community Investment Fund, a component fund of the Amarillo Area Foundation, will entertain proposals from nonprofit and charitable institutions throughout the 26 northernmost counties in the Texas Panhandle. Grant amounts will range from $2,500 to $10,000. Individuals and non-charitable organizations are not eligible.

The application process will be competitive. Organizations who fit the eligibility requirements and whose work is in line with the priorities are encouraged to apply. Only one application per organization will be accepted. General operating support is a low priority. The priorities for funding are:

• Basic Needs (Food, Clothing, and Shelter)
• Children, Youth, and Family
• Community Development
• Education
• Health and Wellness

Please note this will be the only CNS Pantex competitive grant cycle in 2017.

Priority will be given to proposals from organizations located and operating in one of the 12 contiguous counties surrounding the Pantex Plant with preference given to projects that serve multiple priority counties. These counties are: Armstrong, Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hutchison, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall, and Swisher.

Applications are available online at aaf.spectrumportal.net and are due April 28, 2017, by noon. See https://www.amarilloareafoundation.org/application-2016 for instructions on how to register in the Spectrum portal. If you have any questions, please contact AAF grant staff at 806.376.4521 or grants@aaf-hf.org.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.