Mark Padilla has a big job, a huge job, in fact. He is the assistant manager for programs and projects within the National Nuclear Security Administration’s production office.
Mark brought his expertise on nuclear weapons assembly, storage and disassembly to our club with a fascinating program about the goings-on at Pantex, aka The Bomb Factory.
The president of the United States certifies the stockpile of weapons at Pantex, said Mark. Pantex also is in charge of dismantling the weapons.
He described Pantex as a “government-owned and contractor-operated” facility. The civilian contractors that run the place form a limited liability corporation, Mark said, “and perform work done specifically at the site.”
Pantex, which employs about 3,300 people, is the “only place in the Western Hemisphere where weapons are assembled and disassembled.”
Mark talked also about the Y12 operation in Oakridge, Tenn., which also provides nuclear fuel for submarines and the Navy’s fleet of attack aircraft carriers.
Pantex has been in operation – on and off – since the 1940s, Mark said. The plant was storing conventional weapons when World War II broke out, he said, and was “effectively closed” at the end of World War II. By the 1950s, Pantex revved up again and by the end of the Cold War in 1991 – with the dissolution of the Soviet Union – Pantex was charged with disassembling nuclear weapons.
Construction has begun on a new administration building at the site, Mark said, explaining that the office will comprise 343,000 square feet and will have offices for about 1,100 administrative personnel.
All in all, those folks do some vital work to protect our nation. Thanks, Mark, for your great program … and thanks for all you and your colleagues to do keep us safe.
Welcome back, Dale Bippus. We missed you and are praying for you, dear friend.
Who deserves standing ovations from our Rotary Club? Those with the length of perfect attendance that two of our members have earned. Tom Higley received a 30-year recognition pin for his perfect attendance. But get this: John Boyce hasn’t missed a Rotary meeting in 64 years. He, too, was honored by President David O’Dell, who saluted them both for their “great dedication to Rotary.” Well done, gentlemen.
Greg Green offered a word of thanks for the Rotarians who volunteered for the annual Salvation Army Christmas bell-ringing campaign. We provided a lot of help for that event t Westgate Mall. To top it off, Greg drew a card with Dick McKay’s name on it, entitling Dr. Dick with a gift card at Outback Steakhouse as a token of his effort at ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. Many thanks to you all.
The Rotary office will be closed from Dec. 19 to Dec. 23. Additionally, we will have no meeting next Thursday, as we’re taking some time off to celebrate Christmas. We return on Dec. 29 for our final meeting at the Amarillo Club. Then, on Jan. 5, we start gathering at Polk Street United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center.
Many thanks belong to: David O’Dell, for presiding; Mel Darnell for leading us in singing the National Anthem and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; Jay Campbell for his invocation; Greg Green for selling Rotary Foundation drawing tickets; the great Dale Bippus, for greeting us; and Teresa Clemons for introducing guests and visiting Rotarians.
Finally, have a wonderful Christmas.
