Pantex Proud: Heston Hollar
Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Heston Hollar 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.
Some Pantexans have worked at our plant for a time, left for a variety of reasons, and found their way back. Heston Hollar is a prime example. He started at Pantex in 2015 and left for a short period before returning in 2019. And while people have a variety of explanations for why they chose to leave and come back, Hollar returned to Pantex for one main reason: safety.
“What stands out to me about Pantex is the safety culture. At regular jobs you are sometimes asked to do things that aren’t the safest. Out here, safety is the number one priority and there has never been an instance where I have been asked to do something that would bring me harm. It’s a relief for myself and my wife and kids.”
Though Hollar has been in his current position since 2019, he started at Pantex in production. He also worked for Lawler Wood in the JCDC for a time.
“Pantex is the land of opportunity. If you don’t like where you are at, you can learn something new by changing roles.”
Hollar believes he has found a home for himself on his current team. And though the work he does is different from what he has experienced off-site, he believes every role at Pantex is important.
What work advice would you offer someone who is new to Pantex?
Working here is a big adjustment for anyone. This job is going to be a lot different than anyone you’ve had before. Try to find your place out here. It may not be the first place you land, but there are a lot of moving parts at the plant and I believe there is a fit for everyone somewhere within it.
What daily task lets you know you’re helping achieve the mission we have at Pantex? How/why does that task let you know you’re working toward the mission?
My daily tasks mostly deal with correctives or modifications, so we get involved if a facility has something wrong with it. Once something breaks or needs to be fixed, my partner and I run out to the job. We get to see something get fixed. It’s higher priority and we get to see the physical impact in the operations from what we do.
What advice do you offer someone who has made a mistake in his or her job? How should they be accountable for that issue?
Own the outcome. I messed up a job early on in my career at Pantex. Understanding that I messed up, I found that I had a lot to learn about how the department worked and it encouraged me to learn the rules that drove our department and were there to put myself and co-workers in the best situation to succeed on future projects.
Why must we understand the requirements, procedures, etc. tied to our jobs?
Knowing and following the rules and procedures keeps everyone on the same page, keeps our records complete, and ensures we are safely making a quality product. Our requirements are rigorous, as they should be considering the importance of our mission.