Follow the leader
Pantex Leadership Academy participants pose with senior leaders following a graduation ceremony in the Happy State Bank auditorium at the Pantex Amarillo Campus.
Plus two. It’s not the start of a mathematical equation or the call for more points at a sporting event; instead, plus two is a leadership philosophy focused on identifying the unique strengths of others to achieve success. This leadership style encourages a culture of excellence by elevating others’ strengths, motivations, and passions. After a video and lesson showing plus two in action, the catchphrase quickly became the motto for the first class of the newly imagined Pantex Leadership Academy for Individual Contributors and Aspiring Leaders (PLA IC/AL) held in June.
The PLA IC/AL is part of a multi-tiered initiative to develop future leaders. When PanTeXas Deterrence (PXD) was awarded the managing and operating contract for Pantex, discussions began on developing top talent through a leadership program. Pantex is committed to cultivating talent, not just to fill a role, but to empower people and inspire others to create lasting mission success. The PLA IC/AL was created to act on senior management’s commitment to recruit, retain, and empower the next generation of high performers at Pantex.
“Everyone has a last day at Pantex, including our leaders,” Information System Security Manager and PLA IC/AL graduate Tiffany Lafleur said. “Devoting time and resources to high-performing individuals helps the organization build the next generation. It gives aspiring leaders a safe environment to both build experience and learn from the lessons of current leadership. I left the academy with a renewed confidence and desire to grow because PXD took the time to invest resources in my professional development.”
The PLA IC/AL is a week-long immersive training focused on foundational skills, team dynamics, practical management, and next-level leadership. The Organizational Development and Training team created this course and works to ensure it benefits Pantexans and the plant by developing emotionally intelligent, critical thinkers while encouraging connection with other future leaders.
“This program introduces concepts and information that most personnel aren’t exposed to as individual contributors,” Organizational Development and Training Director Melissa Roy said. “The course focuses on the soft skills that will help you in your journey. My most memorable moment was watching the relationships form and listening to the conversations develop between participants.”
Pantex is committing resources and investing in personal development to build the future of Pantex in its people. Twenty-two Pantex employees, as well as two from the Pantex Field Office, were selected to participate in the academy. The pilot included a project manager, an electrical engineer, a solutions analyst, and other diverse career fields at Pantex. An intentional benefit of the PLA IC/AL is a valuable network of people who care about Pantex’s mission and are determined to lead others with integrity, competency, and service.
“The training was insightful and pushed me to consider concepts I had not really thought about before,” Lafleur said. “Throughout the week, I built relationships with other aspiring leaders and got opportunities to better understand different roles and jobs at the Pantex Plant. These relationships are probably the best part of the program. I left the academy feeling like I was a part of a cohort of professionals that will hold each other accountable and support each other as we navigate growing as leaders together.”
Each training day had a focus — including foundational skills, team dynamics, practical management, next-level leadership, and capstone scenarios. Participants combined learned skills to proficiently work through a variety of situations that are likely to happen in supervisory roles. Participants improved self- and social-awareness, practiced conflict resolution, and built genuine connections through networking. The week culminated with opportunities to interact with senior leaders and a formal graduation ceremony.
“I appreciate the opportunity and am proud to be a graduate of the first cohort,” Lafleur said. “We had time to look at the values we want to hold as leaders and evaluate where we are in those areas. I am excited to see where this program goes in the future and the overall impact it will have on the plant.”
The PLA IC/AL will be held quarterly. If you want to use your talents to further contribute to the Pantex mission through leadership, share your interest with your supervisor. Development opportunities are crucial for sustaining the exceptional workforce Pantex needs to deliver on its national security mission.