Pantex Proud: Michael Sauls
Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Michael Sauls 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.
Continuous learning is on the forefront of our minds today, with countless people learning for the sake of it. Maintenance Planner Michael Sauls is learning for the generations to come.
Sauls, who has been a Pantexan for the last seven years, started as a material handler and worked his way to being an area mechanic four years later. After two more years working on vehicles, he moved into his current role. With planner in his title, it is no surprise that Sauls is working towards making the plant better, not only for today, but for future generations of Pantexans.
“I try to be a futuristic person,” Sauls said. “I want to build a better future for our new people coming up. It’s hard to be heard sometimes, so I use my ability to speak up for others when they can’t.”
Making sure things work well together is Sauls’ specialty; whether that be the people he works with or the way he plans maintenance work, everything Sauls does is for a reason.
“We get everything for the job put together for colleagues to be able to perform work smoothly so they don’t have to worry about being able to do their job,” Sauls said. “Because we have different experiences, I know we will handle situations differently, but I am able to work with everyone — and learn from them — because at the end of the day I know we are working towards the same goal.”
Sauls is also learning a new language, one that he thinks will serve him well when he considers future work: coding. After some health issues during adolescence, Sauls found that he loved technology and has tried keeping up with the ways it could affect him. Considering technological advancements the plant is implementing, Sauls is excited about the way things are moving forward.
“I see the direction we are going as a plant and I don’t want to limit myself,” Sauls said.
Through constant learning and with the support of his ever-growing community, Sauls continues to push his limits and develop as a proud Pantexan.
What do you enjoy most about working at Pantex?
The people are what make this place very enjoyable. Learning what makes us different is really intriguing to me.
What do you think makes Pantex so special?
The accountability we have within the people. Pantex trusts us every day to make the right decisions, inside and outside of this place. It speaks volumes when you build a community based on trust in a diverse company like this.
Anything else you’d like to add about your role, your team, and/or Pantex/the mission?
Anything and everything that I can bring to my role or team is growth. I always want to exceed expectations for the company and with people every day. When you’re able to develop and grow with people, you continue to learn more about them and yourself.
What’s your top bucket list item and why?
I want to travel the world, but I don’t have specific places in mind. I want to be able to enjoy the wonders of the world and to actually see those wallpapers we get on our computer. Someone had to capture it in life; I want to be able to capture it in person.