Photo by Michael Schumacher
Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Sheldon Downing 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.
For Solutions Architect Sheldon Downing, working in IT is more than technology. The continually advancing “world of tomorrow” captivates and intrigues him, yet what has truly kept him in IT is the same beating heart of many industries: customer service.
“I enjoy listening to internal customers and peers and supporting their needs,” Downing said. “I love networking and collaborating, helping individuals with their issues or sending them to the right person if I’m not the one to fix them. My small contributions have a great impact on mission success and the people responsible.”
Networking and collaboration lend to strong, resilient teamwork. But to get there, it’ll take a change in workplace culture, continuous effort, and open communication.
“It’s easy to find ourselves facing silos and handling problems on our own,” Downing said. “Sometimes, it may be because we don’t know where to start, but that’s why you ask anyone and everyone and figure that out. Vocalizing that you need help is hard, but having help makes the project goal so much easier to attain. You can’t stay isolated.”
Knocking down silos further reminds us that we aren’t alone in our mission, and like Downing, we should all be grateful for what we do.
“Not everyone can contribute to our national security, and I’m proud to be a part of that,” Downing said. “It wasn’t until I joined Pantex that I better understood the vital nature of our mission. We shouldn’t take that for granted, me included.”
Downing has a lot of accomplished work and strong working relationships to take pride in, but his proudest moment happened right after site separation.
“I was on the small team to replace the Unclassified to Classified system right after site separation,” Downing said. “We had to replace that system rapidly, yet we crossed the finish line ahead of schedule. For most of my work, I don’t always immediately see my contributions but to witness that take effect followed by its instant impact was amazing.”
How do you and your team contribute to mission success?
We are tied directly to Digital Transformation, modernizing several efforts across the site and the Enterprise Secure Network. We ensure we have site-to-site collaboration and can grow in stride with the rest of the enterprise.
What advice would you give to a new employee?
Don’t expect to know everything. And ask lots of questions. Find a good mentor or ask for one. Also, it's easy to stagnate and follow the status quo in our processes. Don’t be afraid to respectfully and professionally challenge methods, even if that’s the way it’s always been done.
What’s your favorite outside-of-work activity and why?
Warhammer 40K. It’s the definition of being a nerd, but I love all aspects of it; collecting, building, painting models, and even the lore. I enjoy playing with my friends and sharing this hobby with my children. It’s quiet, relaxing, and a nice break from staring at screens all day.