My life previously was riddled with almosts and my military career was the catalyst that woke me up to the reality that my greatest enemy all along was not out there but in the mirror. It is my cross to bear as a reminder, never again. My reason for requesting to become a part of this forum is to observe, learn, and apply the teaching moments in this forum to my current role. So I will lurk in the background and silently share remorse for our fallen. Gone but not forgotten. What this forum represents and teaches is applicable to my current role as a civilian Transmission Operator (TO). Our core philosophies are similar and in this we are brothers.
Those in my role work in small teams to provide 24hr coverage to the bulk electric system (BES). I am an operator’s operator meaning that I not only oversee all company field crews that lay hands on the BES but also oversee other utilities’ operators within my control area, provide a safe working environment for my crews, and deploy all available resources to keep the lights on. I found this career path while working as a lineman. When I was strapped to a pole 60ft above the ground opposite my pole partner swaying back and forth in torrential rain conditions and repairing downed power lines, it didn’t matter that this was day x of multiple days without sleep. What mattered was the family down the street who’d been without power for a week relying on us to get their power on. Mon raison d’etre(no accurate English translation)is service. I serve because I am, and further still, I am because I serve.
Because of my situational awareness, unwavering integrity, and execution, all learned while in the US Navy, I have moved swiftly up the ranks to my current senior position. Much like the roles in this forum TO’s are a tight knit community. Those that think “I” are swallowed one bite at a time by the demands of the work. We work as a unit within a defined chain of command and provide overlapping coverage of each other’s control area. When one of us suffers a major electrical loss the repercussions echo across the US. The public doesn’t know we exist. Many of the crew personnel we lead have never seen our faces.
To all who have served in the military and in civilian public service in harm’s way I am honored by your service. Someone once told me that I have three choices when faced with adversity, AMP: Adapt, Migrate or Perish. I told him that the latter may be a choice but it is not an option.
Those in my role work in small teams to provide 24hr coverage to the bulk electric system (BES). I am an operator’s operator meaning that I not only oversee all company field crews that lay hands on the BES but also oversee other utilities’ operators within my control area, provide a safe working environment for my crews, and deploy all available resources to keep the lights on. I found this career path while working as a lineman. When I was strapped to a pole 60ft above the ground opposite my pole partner swaying back and forth in torrential rain conditions and repairing downed power lines, it didn’t matter that this was day x of multiple days without sleep. What mattered was the family down the street who’d been without power for a week relying on us to get their power on. Mon raison d’etre(no accurate English translation)is service. I serve because I am, and further still, I am because I serve.
Because of my situational awareness, unwavering integrity, and execution, all learned while in the US Navy, I have moved swiftly up the ranks to my current senior position. Much like the roles in this forum TO’s are a tight knit community. Those that think “I” are swallowed one bite at a time by the demands of the work. We work as a unit within a defined chain of command and provide overlapping coverage of each other’s control area. When one of us suffers a major electrical loss the repercussions echo across the US. The public doesn’t know we exist. Many of the crew personnel we lead have never seen our faces.
To all who have served in the military and in civilian public service in harm’s way I am honored by your service. Someone once told me that I have three choices when faced with adversity, AMP: Adapt, Migrate or Perish. I told him that the latter may be a choice but it is not an option.
Lack of attention to detail is not an excuse it's a lack of self respect.
Sometimes I wonder if they can actually do that. The way some of these lines gallup, jump rope is not such a distant reality .
