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Since the days of World War II, women have played an important part in accomplishing the Pantex mission. While their loved ones fought on the battlefield front lines, they did their part on the Pantex assembly line.

Women dubbed the “80s Ladies” worked the Pantex assembly/disassembly line during the Cold War.

Today, hundreds of women engineers, scientists, technicians and professionals, including the first female Pantex site manager, help ensure the safety, security and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we will look back at four historical articles about women at Pantex.

Part one of the series is an October 1942 article from the Pantexan, an employee newsletter.

Women on the Job

Capable hands will nurse the booster line into operation

Moselle McDaniels (left), Margaret Deal, Josephine Eubanks and Betty Solomon build boosters.

With the christening of the Booster line comes the advent of the use of women in actual production work at Pantex.

Every day more and more women are being employed in the nation’s war industries. Married women with husbands in Australia work beside girls with sweethearts in Ireland. Pantex Ordnance Plant is following the national trend of using women workers whenever possible. They will be the backbone of production in Zone 6, outnumbering the men about five to one.

Although the baby area in size, the Booster line has a man-sized job to do. Line Superintendent Frank L. Poeltler and his crew have shown in their preparations that they are capable of fulfilling that obligation.

The supervisory staff has spent much time in insuring the best of working conditions. All wearing apparel for both men and women is furnished and is serviced in the respective change houses. It is laundered regularly to insure cleanliness. Men wear the regular powder suits and shoes.

Careful consideration has been given to the problem of women’s working apparel, paying attention to the factors of comfort, safety and convenience. The outfit decided upon is a neat appearing combination of style and utility.

The women wear white cotton gabardine culottes, which button from neck to hem so that a skirt effect is produced when buttoned. These may be left only partly buttoned for more freedom.

A full cap with a jaunty bill which may be worn straight or tilted is the standard headwear. It is notable that no two of the women wear their caps alike.

White lisle stockings and two-toned powder shoes complete the visible ensemble. The same care was used in the selection of the unmentionables as was used for the rest of the outfit. It may be that the uniform will be changed to slacks and anklets later on, if found to be more practical.

In Booster building jobs requiring nimble fingers the women are more capable than men, and are equally competent in many other duties. There are several types of operations involved, from strictly manual to completely mechanical. The women have shown the greatest interest in operations involving a machine or mechanical “gadget,” and have shown greater aptitude than men in the use of micrometers and balances in the quality control operations.

Much false information has been spread, by persons unqualified to have opinions, about the dangers of this work. When the facts are explained by well-informed instructors, these fallacies are seen to be ungrounded.

Whatever dangers are inherent in this department, as well as in other departments, are well guarded against by safety regulations, which, if carefully followed, minimized the possibility of accident or illness.

Strict cleanliness is one of the safety regulations and makes for health, happy working conditions. The assembly rooms are kept cleaner than most parlors and are really quite pleasant.

Steam heat will be used to combat the “northers” which could be quite and Axis ally otherwise. Enclosed ramps and change house stairs will add their bit towards subjugating Old Man Winter.

All in all, the best conditions obtainable are being provided, so that no occupational accidents or illnesses can interfere with the women who are helping in building up Uncle Sam’s ammunition supplies.

Ernestine O’Brien uses a micrometer to ensure exactness in production.

Michelle Reichert, CNS Vice President and Pantex Site Manager (at left), and Jim Haynes, CNS President and Chief Executive Officer, welcome Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, to the Pantex Plant.

Pantexans rolled out the red carpet last week for several Air Force visitors.

Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, visited the Pantex Plant for a mission familiarization tour. She observed operations in several mission-vital facilities

Six personnel from Sheppard Air Force Base, near Wichita Falls, Texas, also visited the Plant last week. In addition to a Plant overview and history presentation, they toured facilities where Pantex production technicians build Joint Test Assemblies (JTA).

After the meticulous work on the JTAs is complete, the mock weapons are sent to the military for test flights. The valuable information gathered during these tests ensure the weapons function as designed and allows scientists and engineers at the national laboratories to validate the nuclear stockpile to the President of the United States.

Pantex’s Shaun Ashley (left) and Kirk Spear identify lock out/tag out isolation points on a steam piping system prior to performing work.

Employees in Consolidated Nuclear Security’s Infrastructure organization have worked more than 3.2 million hours since a lost-time injury. For electricians, carpenters, machinists, riggers, welders and other craft personnel at the Pantex Plant and the Y-12 National Security Complex, the “office” is often atop a ladder or in a bucket truck working on high-voltage lines. That’s why working safely is a daily, if not hourly, preoccupation.

“It’s hard to pin down one or two things we’ve done to be successful,” said Scott Underwood, head of Y-12’s Infrastructure group with more than 900 employees who combined have worked more than 2.5 million hours without a lost-time injury. “We’ve leveraged all the people, processes and tools we have in place to make a difference.”

Foremost, explained Underwood, safety is not about a program; it’s about people. “You’ve got to care about your own personal safety and the safety of others. That’s where it starts,” he said. “We’ve also made improvements in some of our processes. When problems do arise, managers, front-line supervisors and craft personnel actively work together to find solutions.”

City of Oak Ridge employees and Y-12 Infrastructure and Environmental and Safety Programs workers gather for a pre-lift safety brief to repair a 24-inch water line on-site at Y-12. Though the recently completed project involved hazardous work, no injuries or negative events occurred.

Finding solutions is part of Steve Passmore’s job. “Every day, people call me and tell me their safety concerns,” said Passmore, one of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council’s safety officers assigned to Y‑12’s Infrastructure group. “We maintain a log, and we work the issues. If it’s a true safety issue, we find the money to get it fixed. However, some issues can be fixed without the need for additional funding. It’s just a matter of getting the right communication to the right people. Then I always get an answer back to those who call.”

Pantex Infrastructure manager Bob Asbury also knows a thing or two about closing the loop on safety suggestions, concerns and solutions. “It is critical that when issues are raised by employees they are welcomed by leadership, but more importantly the loop has to be closed with the employee,” he said. “You owe the employee an answer, and that is best delivered face to face.”

Asbury’s organization of about 375 employees has worked more than 330 days — more than 717,000 hours — without a lost-time injury. He attributes that track record to employee ownership of safety issues and solutions, supervisory engagement and an effective Plan of the Day, or POD. The POD, an electronic document prepared by Maintenance craft workers and management, serves as a daily risk-based review of work activities that then leads into a pre-job briefing.

Pantex’s Maintenance organization implemented the POD three years ago, and the idea has since caught on in other groups at the site. “The response has been truly amazing,” said Shane Feagan, Metal Trades Council safety officer at Pantex. “The POD now reaches people across many organizations at the plant. The most important thing the POD brings to the table is that it ensures we all receive timely and accurate information.”

The Pantex POD description, authored by Feagan, was selected as an Energy Facility Contractor’s Group best practice and is also featured on the Department of Energy’s OPEXSHARE website.

Taken together, the Y-12 and Pantex processes, tools and people undergird the CNS Infrastructure organization’s commitment to creating and maintaining a continuously improving safety culture.

Y-12’s Ron Sharp (left) and Josh Howard (both heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning, or HVAC, mechanics) look over a job package before performing work on an HVAC system. Behind both men is one of the newly installed heat pumps to reduce utility costs and increase reliability.

Teams from 16 area schools vie for regional title

AMARILLO, Texas – Thirty teams, comprised of the best and brightest from 16 Texas high schools, will demonstrate their academic proficiency Saturday, Feb. 21, in the ultimate brain game.

The students will go head-to-head at the Pantex High School Science Bowl at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). The event is sponsored by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS), managing and operating contractor for the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, on behalf of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

Science Bowl is a fast-paced academic competition in which teams of four students answer questions about biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, energy, mathematics and physics. The teams compete in a round-robin format in the morning, followed by a double elimination tournament after lunch.

“Science Bowl gives students who love math and science an event designed especially for them.” said Michelle Reichert, CNS Vice President and Pantex Site Manager. “They are the next generation of scientists and engineers who will one day help support the Pantex Plant’s important mission.”

The winning team will join Bonham Middle School, winner of the Feb. 7 Pantex Middle School Science Bowl, in April at the National Science Bowl® in Washington, D.C.

Introduced in 1991 to foster an interest in science and math, the National Science Bowl® is DOE’s longest-running educational outreach program.

CNS will award the winner of Saturday’s event $1,000 for their school’s science program. The second and third place teams receive $500 and $250, respectively.

About 100 Pantex Plant and NNSA Production Office employees and retirees, as well as volunteers from WTAMU and Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Pharmacy, will serve as competition officials.

Media is invited to attend the Science Bowl starting at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 21, in the Classroom Center at West Texas A&M University. Media will be able to film or photograph the competition and interviews with contestants and volunteers will be available. Please come to room 401 and ask for Allison Roberts, CNS External Communications. The competition will run from 1 p.m. through the final round, which starts at 4 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony.

Schools participating in this year’s Pantex High School Science Bowl are:

Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning (two teams)
Amarillo High School (three teams)
Ascension Academy (two teams)
Caprock High School (three teams)
Dumas High School (two teams)
Estacado High School (two teams)
Friona High School
Higgins High School
Holy Cross Catholic Academy (two teams)
Lazbuddie High School (two teams)
Lubbock High School (two teams)
Palo Duro High School
Panhandle High School (two teams)
Randall High School (three teams)
Shallowater High School
West Texas High School

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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.

CONTACT
Allison Roberts
External Communications
Office (806) 573.0501
Mobile (806) 418-9693
allison.roberts@pantex.doe.gov

Teams from 17 area Texas schools to compete for regional title

AMARILLO, Texas – Panhandle Junior High School will defend its regional title Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Pantex Middle School Science Bowl at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). The event is sponsored by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, (CNS), the managing and operating contractor for the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas.

The 2014 regional winners will face-off in a fast paced academic competition with students from 16 other middle schools across the Texas Panhandle. The teams of four students will answer questions in a round-robin format, followed by a double elimination round after lunch.

The students and their teacher coaches have practiced and studied for months to prepare for questions in a range of disciplines including life science, physical science, earth and space science, energy, mathematics and general science.

The U.S. Department of Energy introduced the National Science Bowl® in 1991 to foster an interest in science and math. The Pantex Plant has sponsored the regional competitions for more than 20 years, as part of the Plant’s commitment to education.

“CNS is proud to continue the tradition of sponsoring the regional Science Bowl,” said Michelle Reichert, CNS Vice President and Pantex Site Manager. “Our goal is to encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers, who we hope will one day help support the Pantex Plant’s important mission.”

About 150 Pantex Plant and National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office employees and retirees will work and serve as moderators, timers, judges and scorekeepers. They will be joined by volunteers from WTAMU and Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Pharmacy.

Laura Bailey, this year’s CNS event coordinator and a long-time event moderator, said this event would not be possible without the dedication of the volunteers.

“They give up their Saturday to make this an exciting event for these talented students,” she said.

Saturday’s event winning team receives an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., in April to vie for a national title, and $1,000 for their school’s science program. The second and third place teams receive $500 and $250, respectively.

CNS will also sponsor the Pantex High School Science Bowl Feb. 21 at WTAMU.

Media is invited to attend the Science Bowl starting at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 7, in the Classroom Center at West Texas A&M University. Media will be able to film or photograph the competition and interviews with contestants and volunteers will be available. Please come to room 428 and ask for George Rangel, CNS Internal and External Communications Manager. The competition will run from 1 p.m. through the final round, which starts at 4 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony.

Schools participating in this year’s Pantex Middle School Science Bowl are:

Austin Middle School (two teams)
Bonham Middle School (three teams)
Borger Middle School (two teams)
Bovina Middle School (two teams)
Bushland Middle School (two teams)
Canyon Junior High School (three teams)
Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School (three teams)
Dumas Intermediate School
Dumas Middle School (three teams)
Farwell Junior High School (two teams)
Friona Junior High School (two teams)
Higgins Junior High School (three teams)
Highland Park Middle School (three teams)
Holy Cross Academy (two teams)
Lazbuddie Junior High School (two teams)
Panhandle Junior High School
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (two teams)

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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.

Pantexans and their friends are busy preparing for what some would call their favorite Pantex event.

More than 150 volunteers will serve as officials for the regional Science Bowls sponsored this month by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS).

Pantexans (from left) Kayla Mendoza, Gabriel Chacon, Howard Thompson and Nathan Escarcega prepare to “buzz in” during a mock Science Bowl round.

The volunteers are employees from the Pantex Plant and NNSA Production Office, as well as West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) faculty and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy students. Even a few Pantex Plant retirees will be on hand as moderators, science judges, scorekeepers and timekeepers.

Students from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy learn the Science Bowl rules and practice during a mock round to prepare for the upcoming regional competitions.

Thirty-eight teams will test their skills in the Feb. 7 competition for middle school students. Thirty-one teams, some from as far away as Lubbock and Higgins, will face-off at the Feb. 21 high school competition.

As part of CNS’s commitment to education, it will donate $1,000 to the science programs of the winning schools. Winners also receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl®.

Media Advisory

CNS and Metal Trades Council begin Pantex labor agreement negotiation

AMARILLO, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) begins negotiating a new labor agreement with the Metal Trades Council this week. The Metal Trades Council is the sole bargaining agent for ten local unions representing approximately 1,100 workers at Pantex.

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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.

CONTACT
George Rangel
Public Affairs
Office (806) 477-7641
Mobile (806) 535-3526

More than 58 families to receive assistance this year

AMARILLO, Texas – More than 100 Pantex volunteers will gather at the Pantex Christmas Project Party Friday, Dec. 19, to celebrate the holidays and help several local families have a Merry Christmas.

Friday’s party is the culmination of months of hard work by the volunteers of the Pantex Christmas Project. They will host 149 children from 58 families for an evening of games, food, dancing and visiting with Santa Claus. Gifts, clothing, and necessities will be delivered to their homes before Dec. 24.

“The Christmas Party is great fun for the families and children,” says Lennet Hernandez, chair of the Pantex Christmas Project. “It gives the families an opportunity to have fun together, and it gives the volunteers an opportunity to know them better.”

The Pantex Christmas Project, now in its 59th year, gathers donations to help area families who need help during the holidays. Families are selected by the project committee, and each child’s name is written on angel tags that are placed on trees throughout the Pantex Plant. Pantexans adopt the angels, and purchase a complete outfit for each child and necessities for the elderly.

“We are so happy to be able to help so many worthy families every year,” Hernandez says. “It really is the highlight of the holiday season for us. With the generous donations from Pantexans and organizations in our community, the Christmas Project is able to grant these children’s wishes.”

CONTACT
Laura Bailey
Office (806) 573.0502
or (806) 584-8580

Pantex volunteers are spreading holiday cheer this week during two celebrations for local organizations.

Pantexans helped residents and staff of Martha’s Home celebrate Christmas at a party Tuesday sponsored by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS). About 55 guests enjoyed food, music and family photos. Each woman and child received a gift from Santa.

For more than 25 years, Martha’s Home has provided shelter for homeless single women and mothers with children.

The festivities will continue Thursday at the Ussery-Roan State Veterans Home Christmas party sponsored by CNS. About 300 residents, staff and their families will all enjoy food, music and family photos. Santa will present each resident a new bath robe and hand out candy canes to the children.

When asked what gift the staff would most appreciate, they said a lift to help raise bedridden residents. CNS representatives will be on hand to present the veterans home with a $3,000 donation for the purchase of the equipment.

The Amarillo facility provides long-term care to nearly 120 Texas veterans and their spouses.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC sponsored a Thanksgiving lunch at Hilltop Senior Citizens Center in Amarillo, Texas.

Pantexans and Hilltop staff, along with volunteers from the Potter County Deputy Sheriff Association and Vista College, served the traditional Thanksgiving fare. About 500 Hilltop members, family and community friends enjoyed turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, vegetables and an assortment of cakes and pies. Staff members even delivered meals to about 40 homebound seniors.

This is the sixth year Pantex has sponsored the meal.

Founded in 1974 by a group of African-American seniors, Hilltop Senior Citizens Center offers daily meals and activities to a population diverse in age and race. Many of the center members are on fixed incomes and enjoy coming to the center to play games and attend classes.

Members of Hilltop Senior Citizens Center and community friends enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving lunch provided by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC.