News

AMARILLO, Texas – Amarillo’s women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM fields, celebrated Engineering Week by encouraging the next generation at “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” at the Region 16 Education Service Center today.

Hundreds of high school girls from area schools took part in interactive presentation booths designed to encourage their interest in engineering and other technical fields. Currently, less than 20% of students enrolled in engineering degree program are women, yet more women are now pursuing college degrees than men.

Conferences like this help spark interest in STEM courses among young women, outlining the possibilities in the engineering fields. The jobs can literally take someone from jobs around the globe to Disney World.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, Pantex Women in Nuclear, and Pantex Outreach and Leadership Organization are proud to host the conference in partnership with Bell, Excel, West Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University.

This morning’s conference was held this morning at the Region 16 Education Service Center with students meeting up with host professionals to inspire them to consider STEM curriculum in their future career choices.

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 absolute priorities of safety, security, quality, mission delivery and cost efficiency.

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
Steve Myers
Communications
Office (806) 573.0490
Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

Pantex and the Y-12 National Security Complex were recently named veteran-friendly employers. The Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Veterans Commission honored Pantex with the distinction in 2018, and the Tennessee Veterans Business Association recognized Y-12 in January. Together, Pantex and Y-12 employ more than 1,800 veterans.

Veterans serve in a range of roles at the sites, everything from security police officers to machinists to weapons assembly/disassembly operators to engineers. “Working at Y-12 has allowed me to continue my service to the nation in a meaningful way,” said Tom Tress, who served as a helicopter mechanic in the Marine Corps and is now a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt working on process improvement initiatives at the site. “I believe strongly in our nuclear deterrence mission.”

Sherry Philyaw, retired senior chief petty officer who now manages infrastructure assessments and corrective actions at Pantex, finds continuity in her military and Pantex careers through the structure and formality of processes. “To assure the dependability of every single one of our products, we have to follow procedures and policies, just like in the Navy,” she said. “We check and double check everything. Our customer has to know without a doubt that the product we deliver will be exactly what they are expecting.”

In addition to veterans, Pantex and Y-12 employ active-duty Reserve and National Guardsmen and women who are often deployed on tours of duty around the world.

“Military service builds skills that are very valuable to employers,” said Heather Freeman, Pantex Human Resources site manager. “Veterans have training in leadership, teamwork, loyalty, decision making, and technical skills. They have real-life experience, work well under pressure, are responsible, have a strong work ethic, and can interact with a variety of people. It is a great investment for both employers and those who have served our country.”

Moreover, since July 2014, Consolidated Nuclear Security, the managing contractor of Pantex and Y-12, has awarded veteran-owned small businesses nearly $184 million in contracts and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses more than $81 million. Those contracts represent more than 200 veteran-owned small businesses and about 100 service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.— Pantex and Y-12 contributions to the United Way topped $1 million in 2018 in donations gathered from employees, retirees, Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, the sites’ managing and operating contractor, announced.

The sites engaged in yearlong campaigns to generate money for the United Way, raising funds through silent auctions and various jewelry, book and food sales at the sites as well as employee contributions. A $150,000 donation from CNS’ parent companies also was included in the total.

“Pantexans understand the value of giving to the local community and of helping those in need,” Pantex Site Manager Todd Ailes said. “Year after year, our employees and retirees step up to take care of people in the Panhandle.”

“One of the best ways to help our local communities is through the United Way,” Y-12 Site Manager Bill Tindal said. “Y-12 and East Tennessee are special places because of the commitment of our employees to giving back to our neighbors.”

Y-12 employee contributions to the United Way are distributed in 17 East Tennessee counties, while Pantex contributions benefit the Texas Panhandle region and equated to 11 percent of the overall Amarillo and Canyon United Way campaign.

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 absolute priorities of safety, security, quality, mission delivery and cost efficiency.

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
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 576-4124
kathryn.king@cns.doe.gov

January is National Blood Donor Month. In 2018, Pantexans donated more than 475 units of blood to the @Coffee Memorial Blood Center. Pantex has hosted the bloodmobile approximately every two weeks since the 1960s.

Congratulations to the newest Pantex security police officers! The 19 graduates completed more than 300 hours of training as part of the Department of Energy National Training Center’s Tactical Response Force I course.

On December 13th and 17th, the Pantex Emergency Management Department held briefings for local emergency services about how to keep themselves safe during possible hazardous material emergencies at Pantex that could affect surrounding jurisdictions. Local first responders such as fire department, law enforcement, and public health teams as well as Pantex’s own off-site liaison teams attended the briefings to learn what they could expect and how to prepare in the event of an emergency that requires response or mutual aid from the local stations.

Chuck Rives, Pantex senior emergency hazards analyst and presenter at the event said, “We provided this presentation to help them be ready to respond to emergency that could come from Pantex, so that we can help them know what the dangers are, what kinds of materials that could be coming from the plant, and what they need to do about them.”

In the past, these sorts of briefings were given to high-level individuals. This is the first year that the briefing was given to all first responders from chief to officer.

“We want them to feel like they get the honest truth from us, so they know what the real hazards are,” Rives said. “Now they have solid information and can be confident in what they’re doing.”

In addition to the mutual aid given by Pantex emergency personnel in the local communities, these presentations promote further open dialogue and cooperation with local authorities.

Amanda Hammer and Kenny Steward were among the Pantex volunteers who staffed the Salvation Army's Red Kettle throughout the day December 13 at United on Soncy. Their efforts were accompanied by a $5,000 Pantex donation. The Salvation Army's Red Kettles enable the organization to help those in need during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods.

Officials with The Texas A&M University System announced Thursday that Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) will help address critical needs in the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile by providing technical expertise, workforce development and training at the Pantex Plant, the nation’s primary facility for the final assembly, dismantlement and maintenance of nuclear weapons. Learn more in the Texas A&M University System new release.

Pantex Plant’s Emergency Management Department will conduct an emergency exercise the day of November 13th. During this exercise, between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. people in the vicinity of the Pantex Plant may observe emergency personnel simulating response activities as part of the exercise.

We apologize for the inconvenience; however, emergency exercises test the ability of emergency personnel to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations, and ensure the public, Pantex employees and the environment would be protected in the event of an actual emergency.

Again, you may observe response personnel simulating response activities as part of the exercise, but if you observe suspicious activity before or after November 13th, please report your observations to 477-5000.

AMARILLO, Texas- The Engineering News-Record, (ENR), a 101-year old professional engineering publication, has selected Pantex’s John C. Drummond Center (JCDC) as the 2018 Best Project in its annual category of Government/Public buildings in the Texas-Louisiana district.

According to its website, ENR posted: “Designing a state-of-the-art, high-security complex in a remote location with a harsh climate forced the project team to get creative when it came to procuring materials and labor. The $115-million, 348,000-sq-ft JCDC, (formerly the Administrative Support Complex, or ASC) enables the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to relocate employees from its aging facilities into a modern, energy-efficient facility adjacent to Pantex.

The construction schedule was tight and with the site’s remoteness, materials and labor were distant. These challenges informed the design team’s selection of materials and building systems that could be fabricated off site in controlled environments to eliminate concerns about weather and the site’s distant location. The contractor pursued subcontractors from five different states and developed a strategy to enhance the capabilities of several small local subcontractors.

The end result was a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, three-story, precast and glass building that uses flexible floor plates and contains offices to support 1,100 federal and contractor employees. The complex includes a 365-seat sloped-floor auditorium, cafeteria, medical facility, conference center, and meeting spaces. The project was completed on time and under budget.

Brad Roquemore, Lawler-Wood Vice President said, “The Pantex JCDC (formerly ASC) is the third building that Lawler-Wood and its core team members, Turner Construction Company and STG Design, have developed at two NNSA sites. Lawler-Wood is very proud to have the opportunity to participate in the modernization of these sites, which play a vital role in our national security. It is also proud to play a key role in introducing new, creative, and cost-effective financing and construction delivery methods into the government procurement system."

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
Steve Myers
Communications
Office (806) 573-0490
stephen.myers@pantex.doe.gov