TVA HONORS VETERANS
This year, I’m proud to present TVA’s first ever enterprise-wide Veterans publication. Throughout these pages you’ll find TVA employees who have had storied careers across every military branch and have served our country with bravery and valor at home and abroad. Now, they serve our country in a different way – by making life better for the 10 million people who call the Valley region home.
The talents, training and hard-earned skills that our Veterans bring makes TVA a stronger and better organization. Traits like discipline, persistence, and innovation which helps us succeed in our mission each day.
Here, you’ll read stories of TVA employees as they share memories of their time in uniform and discuss ways their service ties back to their job today. I’m thankful — first and foremost — for their service and for sharing their stories. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I have.
Jeff Lyash, President & CEO
A life of service. From serving our country to serving the people of the Tennessee Valley region. Veterans come from all walks of life, from all over the United States. And in this publication, you’ll read about their background, their military experience and the work they do now. You’ll see photos of their time in the military. Some from 30 years ago, some more recent. Regardless of when or where they served, or what military branch, we thank them for their service. We thank them for their sacrifice to our country, our community and our way of life. This publication started as a way to feature the Veterans in the nuclear organization. And I’m proud to say that it is now an enterprisewide publication, featuring not just the Veterans in Nuclear but the Veterans of TVA.
Thank you for your service to our country, to our communities and to TVA.
Tim Rausch,
Chief Nuclear Officer
Autumn Higgins
Sequoyah Senior Reactor Operator / Navy
In her current role at Sequoyah Nuclear, Senior Reactor Operator Autumn Higgins is responsible for providing direction and oversight for plant and control room activities. She has long enjoyed a career in serving others – though she originally had not planned for it to involve nuclear fission.
“I originally signed on with the Navy to be an Aviation Structural Mechanic,” she said. “But the Combat Exclusion Law had recently been repealed, thus allowing women to serve on combatant ships. Before I knew it, I was headed towards a job in the nuclear Navy.”
After two years of training, she was given orders to the pre-commissioned nuclear aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, in Newport News, Virginia.
“It was exciting to finally join the fleet, and even more so as a plankowner,” said Autumn. “I spent the remainder of my six-year commitment on that ship as a Nuclear Electronics Technician – AKA ‘twidget.’”
While onboard, Autumn was primarily responsible for helping operate and maintain the ship’s two reactors. One of her claims to fame is being a member of the crew that took Unit 1 critical for the first time.
“My name is still on the initial criticality plaque hanging nearby Unit 1,” she said. “I had a great run. I learned about nuclear and non-nuclear systems, performed and supervised plant maintenance, managed classified documents and supported workups and sea trials.”
Later, in 2000, as her enlistment was ending, Autumn was left stateside as her ship drifted towards the horizon in the Atlantic.
“I waved goodbye from the pier to all my shipmates as they sailed away on the Truman’s maiden cruise,” she said.
Autumn’s time in uniform may have ended, but her career in nuclear was just beginning. Her post-Navy career has included work as an assistant unit operator at Surry Power Station, control room monitoring at a Plutonium facility, and performing licensed operations at Sandia National Labs, Robinson Nuclear Plant and now Sequoyah.
“I’m proud to have served my country, and grateful for the experience it gave me,” said Autumn. “The Navy taught me many things that I still try to practice, today. One example is that a place should be better when you leave, not because you leave. Another is to always prioritize integrity, never cut corners and come clean when you make a mistake. And finally, no matter how important you think you are, you’re always better and stronger as part of a greater team.”
In July 2023, Autumn attended the 25-year reunion for the Harry S. Truman Reactor Department.
“It was like no time had passed, at all,” said Autumn. “And yet, a lifetime had. The military gave me my livelihood and all the love I can stand. I wouldn’t trade it for anything and am so grateful it’s helping me to this day as I serve the Valley region with pride.”
Deionandrea Carmichael
Facilities Maintenance Technician / Air Force
Deionandrea Carmichael served in the U.S. Air Force for a decade, during which he completed a tour in Iraq during the Iraq Freedom War. The camaraderie he shared with his fellow airmen, he says, is a memory that stays with him even today.
“My fellow airmen and I were like family away from home. And many times, we were all we had.”
Stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, he was a member of the 82nd Civil Engineering Squadron. His service in the Air Force also took him to Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico.
Seeing family members serve their country across several branches served as inspiration and provided role models for Deionandrea to look up to, he said. “My cousin, Latisha and my Uncle Marvin inspired me to join the military. My cousin is a Naval
Veteran and my uncle served in the United States Army.”
Today Deionandrea works as a Facilities Maintenance Technician at TVA, where he’s worked for six years.
“My job is to repair and maintain equipment to include but not limited to generators, power distribution systems, 13KV switchgear, uninterruptible power supply, transformers, electrical portion of fire protection systems, HVAC systems chillers, heat pumps and more.
“The military taught me the skills and training I needed to be successful at TVA. Being in the Civil Engineering squadron I was introduced to a variety of equipment, which allowed me to gain lots of hands-on experience. In addition, I was able to earn an associate’s degree from the Community College of the Air Force in mechanical/electrical. Having the
knowledge and experience that I have gained from the military, along with learning to work with others with different cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities has allowed me to be successful at TVA.”
Deionandrea says he sees parallels with his job at TVA and the values he shared in the U.S. Air Force.
“It means a great deal to me working for a company that values Veterans who have served in the military. Not only do they respect your military journey, they also incentivize Veterans for being part our United States Armed Forces.
“I see ways that my work at TVA aligns with the core values of the U.S. Air Force: Integrity first, service to others, and excellence in all we do. Those same values I bring to TVA to fullfill the mission of serving people in the Tennessee Valley region.”
Tim Hines
Civil Project Manager / Army
Meet Tim Hines, Project Manager for Civil Projects. Soon to celebrate his 14th anniversary with TVA, Tim has progressed from a radiography technician to where he is today as a project manager.
“Change is an opportunity if you let it be,” is a quote Tim lives by daily.
Before starting his journey at TVA, Tim served as an E5 sergeant in the U.S. Army in Tactical Communication System Repairs. He would serve six years, stationed in Oklahoma, Texas, and spend three of his six years at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Sadly, an injury would leave him with an honorable discharge from the service in 1992, but his impact on those around him would follow him for years.
Five years after he departed from the military, Tim would receive a visitor to his home—someone who served below him during his service. The visitor quickly told him, “I thank God every day that you were my leader and that you progressed me and pushed me to be the soldier I am today and the person I am today.” Words that Tim would never forget as he began to carve a new path in life following the military.
He began at TVA in 2010 as a radiography technician, a role for which his military experience would serve him well. A strong internal drive and an interest in project management would lead him to where he is today. In 2015, on a Friday, he mentioned to his supervisor his interest in project management.
The following Monday morning, Tim would receive his first management project.
While working up the chain to become a project manager, Tim would receive his Lean Six Sigma Green Belt in the first class that TVA sponsored. He would soak up any opportunities that came his way, even becoming a subject matter expert on the ITWO estimating software. Opportunities like this would allow Tim to continue to grow and expand his horizons in project management.
Tim became an associate project manager in 2020, was given the title of project manager in 2021, and is currently on track to become a senior project manager. When working as a project manager, leadership qualities are critical and the main part of the job. With Tim’s leadership experience from the military under his belt, being a project manager would be something at which Tim would excel.
“The role of a leader is to influence the people under your charge to reach the desired goal that will make the team successful,” Tim said when discussing his definition of a leader.
Tim sees many parallels between his current position and his job while in the military. Scheduling, planning, delegating and executing are all similarities that Tim has found in both roles between TVA and the military.
As many Veterans deserve to feel, Tim holds a deep sense of service and pride in his time spent in the military and the effects he has had on others. Tim also feels a high appreciation for TVA’s diversity and gratitude that TVA has for Veterans.
“The diversity that TVA has is unlike any other that I’ve ever been involved in, other than the military. TVA makes you proud to be a Veteran.”
Shawna Hughes
Senior Program Manager in Fleet Licensing / Navy
Navy Veteran Shawna Hughes, then 23 years old, was among the first to respond after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Stationed on the Spruance-class destroyer ship USS O-Brien, she was on shore leave in Bahrain, an island country in the Persian gulf, when her cab driver alluded to something happening in the U.S. that involved airplanes and towers.
Her ship was emergency deployed so quickly that 40 fellow sailors were left behind. As a Navy surface warfare officer, she relayed course directions to the helm to drive her ship, which alongside two submarines, were the first to strike against Afghanistan.
“It was crazy to drive a ship while missiles were being launched in front of it,” she said. “It was nothing but adrenaline and an overwhelming sense of patriotism. This is what we had trained for, and our mission was successful.”
Many Americans have vivid memories of watching the twin towers fall, but Shawna only had a vague understanding of what was happening in the world at that time. Her ship had no communication to the outside world for 40 days as a security precaution.
“We were out to sea for over 50 days. I never thought I’d see combat during my military service, and I was worried my mom was freaking out about not knowing where I was in the world.”
Shawna attended the University of Michigan on an ROTC scholarship, where she obtained a degree in
atmospheric, oceanic and space science. Upon graduation, she entered the Navy in 2000.
Her grandfather was a decorated marine who commissioned her into the military.
“My grandfather had three Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts. He was my hero and he’s the reason I wanted to go into the military.”
Her stepdad was also in the Navy and served as a recruiter while she was in high school.
“He recruited all my boyfriends,” she jokes.
After serving much of her time in the Navy in Japan, Shawna returned to the states in 2003 to attend Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina, and then finished her Navy career on the Nimitz-class nuclearpowered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.
Now a Senior Program Manager in Fleet Licensing at the Fleet Center, Shawna oversees the license amendments for Watts Bar. She started her TVA career in 2011, moving from Texas, where she was the only female senior reactor operator on shift at the South Texas Project, to gain better life balance for her family and her then 3-year-old twins.
She is active in Women in Nuclear, as well as the ERGs Women Empowered, ABLED and Veterans Association. Her time in the military taught her many skills that she’s brought into her civilian career.
“The military taught me diversity and inclusion without using those words,” she said. “As a 20-something, I was exposed to and faced so much adversity and adult situations that I learned to treat people with kindness and value everyone because we all come from different backgrounds.”
Shawna now resides in Chattanooga with her husband, Matt, and her daughters, Morgan and Taylor.
Benjamin Brothers
Commercial Energy Storage Manager / Army
Jim Rolph Sequoyah
Radiation Protection Superintendent / Marine Corps
Meet Jim Rolph, Radiation Protection Superintendent at Sequoyah Nuclear and Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
You could say Benjamin Brothers was born to serve.
He was born in Kansas, outside Ft. Riley, where his father flew UH-1 “Huey” helicopters for the U.S. Army. Ben’s dad, who retired as lieutenant colonel after 23 years of active and reserve service, is his hero, he says. His family then moved near Washington D.C., where in the wake of Sept. 11 he saw firsthand the effects of the attacks on the Pentagon. These formative years lit the spark of patriotism.
Ben actively serves in the U.S. Army Reserves, and throughout his 17-plus years has been deployed to Baghdad,
Iraq; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and has participated in large-scale military training exercises in Burkina Faso, and Korea.
“The military is a place where all walks of life, religions, colors and backgrounds come together to accomplish a goal—and that is to fight and win this nation’s battles. None of us get to choose the battle or where it is waged, and this goal is rarely easy. I have lived in 40-man tents for months with few showers, I have dug holes in the ground to sleep in and have even eaten multitudes of MREs! None of this was fun, but there is something about this adversity that builds a bond that can never be broken.”
So how did he find his way to TVA? It may have been through a popular song on the radio, he jokes.
“Ever since I heard TVA mentioned in Alabama’s ‘Song of the South’ circa early ’90s I knew TVA was for me, and I did get a job here and subsequently bought a washing machine and a Chevrolet.”
Now on his sixth year at TVA, Ben works managing the solar and battery storage origination group in Commercial Energy Storage after starting out as an attorney for the Office of the General Counsel. He says his military career has set him up for success at TVA and beyond,
particularly by setting him up as a leader.
“As a major, and former noncommissioned officer, I have held numerous leadership positions within the military, including platoon leader, company commander and chief of brigade operations. Having been entrusted with soldiers’ lives in both combat and training environments has formed my understanding of leadership. My focus will always be on my team as their success and development is the only gradebook with which I am concerned. The Army views its leaders as fully accountable for every action their soldiers take, both good and bad, which is how I view myself at TVA. Development of my team is a constant focus.”
If Ben was born to serve, he’s certainly doing so both through his role in the Army Reserves and his work at TVA. Thinking back to the song lyric that inspired his career here, he can’t help but see the connection between his two paths.
“Jokes aside, this short lyric captures the hope and opportunity that TVA provided the Southeast region of the United States when it had neither. TVA continues to offer that hope and opportunity today through its Mission of Service and has helped spark the exponential growth and progress of this region.”
As an RP superintendent, he oversees the site’s radwaste and radioactive shipments to help ensure it remains safe and cost-effective for our people, the enterprise and those we serve. Before his nuclear career began, he enlisted in the Marines and served four years of active-duty service.
“I was excited to serve my country and feel fortunate that I got to do so in a variety of capacities, with the Marine Corps,” said Jim. “Avionics Technician, Flight Mechanic, Flight Engineer – all roles I held while in uniform.”
Jim supported his squadron’s mission of fulfilling aerial refueling needs for Marine and Navy fighter/attack planes and helicopters – aircraft he had long desired to get closer to.
“As a kid, I watched every Air Force movie that played on TV and dreamed of flying, one day,” he said. “One of the reasons I loved those
films is because they reminded me that it’s always sunny over the clouds! In the Corps, I supported the maintenance of aircraft navigation and electrical systems. It was crucial that we perform our work with high quality – because you can’t easily fix something on the aircraft while it’s flying at 39,000 feet. It was tedious work but had tremendous value –and it helped me earn other jobs and experience with engine change-outs, aircraft mechanics and engineering.”
Jim finished his career as an E-5 sergeant and then looked for a job in nuclear power. Before he knew it, he was gaining experience across multiple nuclear power plants and industries – with roles in maintenance and technical equipment calibrations, radiation monitoring and radiation protection R&D.
“I went from shielding our nation’s aircraft against instrument malfunctions to shielding people and equipment against penetrating gamma rays,” said Jim. “Though, the Marine Corps. fundamentals of discipline, integrity, attention to detail,
teamwork and quality work stayed with me while I navigated my new career. As I advanced into leadership roles, I learned that you must consistently communicate, model and reinforce the established standards in everything you do. You must place service over self. I’ve worked hard to apply these things in my jobs before and at TVA, and in my children – and have found it to serve me well.”
Jim may have given up wearing his Marine uniform, but not his love for aviation.
“I’ve taken up flying my own small fixed-wing aircraft, as a hobby,” he said. “And it’s not lost on me that my returning – safely – to the sky is in part because I worked hard to have a successful career in nuclear power, and because of the foundation the Corps gave me.”
Brian Rinne
Browns Ferry Component Engineer / Marine Corps
As a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1997, Brian Rinne was unsure of his life goals.
“A conversation with a Marine Corps recruiter changed everything,” Brian said. “After that discussion, I felt an overwhelming urge to seek a new challenge, something that would infuse my life with purpose and direction.”
Without much hesitation he enlisted in the Marine Corps, remaining on active duty for four years.
A color blindness test at MEPS disqualified Brian from becoming a Cobra helicopter mechanic. “I faced a choice at that point: either work a desk job or join the infantry. Drawn by the promise of seeing the world and driven by a desire for active duty, I chose to become an Infantry Rifleman, MOS 0311. It proved to be a pivotal decision.”
Brian found boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, grueling yet exhilarating, and a defining moment that set the tone for the rest of his service.
He was deployed overseas with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 1998 and the 26th MEU in 2000. After promotion to Corporal, Brian attended Helicopter Rope Suspension Master School, learning to rig helicopters for fast roping, spy rigging and repelling. He also took part in fast roping insertions, a challenging
where Marines descend from hovering helicopters using ropes.
He later became a Fireteam Leader, carrying an M16 and M203 grenade launcher. After promotion to Sergeant, he led a squad of 12 Marines and also served as a Range Coach, honing his skills as a Marksmanship Instructor.
After active duty, the GI Bill helped Brian complete his degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He spent six years at the U.S. Steel Fairfield Works steel mill as Maintenance Manager and then Area Manager of Crafts and Services. Brian joined TVA 14 years ago and has been a Component Engineer in the CMO group at Browns Ferry.
“The discipline, adaptability, and meticulous planning required in the military have translated seamlessly into my role in the nuclear industry,” he said. “My experience in the Marine Corps supported my transition to the dynamic nature of working at a
nuclear plant, where flexibility and preparedness are key.”
Brian says his military experience lets him understand how blessed we are as citizens of this country. “My military service instilled in me a deep respect for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States. Witnessing different cultures and their struggles has made me more appreciative of the liberties we often take for granted.”
“Enlisting in the Marine Corps was a life-changing experience. It gave me direction, purpose and a profound sense of pride. I am grateful for the opportunities and lessons that came from serving alongside some of the best people I have ever known. As a Veteran, I am connected to all who have served before, those who are currently serving, and those who will serve in the future. My military background remains a cornerstone of my identity, shaping my approach to both professional and personal challenges.”
Shannon Brown
Balancing Authority Manager / Navy
“At 17, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” said Shannon Brown. “After graduating high school, I couldn’t afford to go to college. So, I joined the Navy to see the world and earn money to further my education through the Navy College Fund.
And see the world, she did. Shannon served four years in the Navy and was stationed at Barbers Point, Hawaii, with deployments to Japan, Diego Garcia and Oman. She met people from across the globe and before she even hit her 20th birthday had experienced a wide range of different cultures.
“Some of my fondest memories from the Navy are the friendships I forged with people from all walks of life. Even today, I look back on pictures of my crewmates and think to myself, ‘Being on that team was the best part about being in the Navy.’ I still keep in touch with several of the people from my old squadron.”
Shannon served in the Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd class, where she was responsible for
all the communications equipment on a P3 Aircraft – a multi-mission maritime long-endurance aircraft, which performs surface and subsurface patrol and reconnaissance tasks over extended periods and far from support facilities.
Along with her desire to see the world, she also was inspired to serve by the legacy her family members before her left behind.
“I actually had a relative that fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was given land in Harlan County, Kentucky as part of his war pension and service. I wanted to carry on a tradition of service to our country as several of my family members were also Veterans of World War II and the Korean War.”
Today, Shannon works as a manager of Balancing Authority in Transmission Operations and Power Supply.
“My military background prepared me for accepting challenges and to give my best effort in all that I do. It also taught me that teamwork is
how a mission gets accomplished. In the military you learn that the good of the team is more important than the individual. Here at TVA, we do everything with service to our customers in mind and I take great pride in the success we have in this mission. I’m proud to work here because we put our mission of service to the Tennessee Valley region first.”
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Elaine Keeton
Watts Bar Project Control Outage Specialist / Navy
It all started with a sense of adventure, mixed in with a sense of humor, for Elaine Keeton. She left her small town of Athens, Tennessee, and joined the Navy out of high school.
“I didn’t want to join the Army like my dad, because I heard his horror stories of carrying a 100-pound backpack uphill in the rain,” said Elaine now a Project Control Outage specialist at Watts Bar Nuclear. “Not to mention, I am not bug- or outdoorfriendly, so I chose the Navy.”
She didn’t want to deal with bugs, but didn’t mind rolling up her sleeves for hard work.
“I wanted to be sort of a pioneer and do something most women wouldn’t choose,” Elaine explained. “I became a diesel mechanic.”
After bootcamp, the young lady from a small town began meeting people from around the country at Naval Station Great Lakes in Great Lakes, Illinois.
“I learned what diversity really was at Great Lakes,” Elaine said. “We learned to make friends with each other to help make it through class and keep from being alone. I learned different cultures, religions and languages there. We learned what made each other tick and our
strengths and weaknesses. During that training, I learned that everyone brings something to the table.”
She finished at the top of her class and chose the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California, as her duty station. Elaine attended church services of different denominations with new friends she met and learned about different cultures during Friday afternoon beach trips with her group that included individuals of various races and ethnicities.
“That’s when my palate of beans and cornbread changed,” Elaine said. “I was discovering parts of other worlds and cultures without leaving the United States.”
As a Certified Diesel Mechanic and welder, she spent considerable time working with Navy Seals in training. A 36-foot boat took Basic Underwater Demolition/Seals (BUD/S) out for special missions.
Elaine met her husband while in the Navy. He was an officer and gave her a job performance evaluation. She didn’t agree with his assessment and will never let him forget about it, but the couple proved to be agreeable around one another. After the Navy, they married and now have three adult daughters and a grandchild.
Recruited to TVA to work on the layup Preventive Maintenance (PM) program at Bellefonte, Elaine joined Watts Bar to work on its layup PM program before becoming planning manager over Unit 2 PM program development. Elaine says her time in the military helped shaped her work and performance here at TVA.
“My military experience has helped me work as a member of a team to get the job done and pushes me to treat people fairly and make sure everyone feels included,” Elaine said. “You are only as strong as the weakest link, and we must work together to build each other up to a higher standard to complete a common goal. Treat people with respect and you will always get respect in return.”
Roy Mabry
Watts Bar Security Shift Supervisor / Army and Tennessee National Guard
Throughout Roy Mabry’s service in the U.S. Army and Tennessee National Guard, he continued to learn. He was an Infantryman (11B) and a Cav Scout (19D) and went to sniper school and long-distance marksmanship school. He earned promotion points through numerous leadership courses, Culinary School, Wheeled Vehicle School, Tank Repair School, Generator Repair School, and Supply School.
He also learned a lot about people, which prepared him for his career here at TVA.
“One of the biggest lessons learned while I was in the military was about diversity and inclusion,” Roy said. “As a platoon sergeant, I had all walks of life… people who came from very little to folks who came from a wealthy background. I had people of many different nationalities. Working with such a diverse group really helps me at TVA. And while females were not allowed in combat units at that time, I now have the privilege of working with some of the best women in our Security department and the other crafts, some of whom are Veterans themselves. The military taught me to see what’s on the inside of a person.”
Getting to know his colleagues, whether when first joining the military in 1991, or now at TVA, helps Roy value his organization. Now a Security Shift Supervisor at Watts Bar Nuclear responsible for creating schedules and working with payroll, Roy says he realizes that his most important duty is to look after the health and safety of the employees and his officers.
servicewomen. I signed an oath to the United States that will never expire, and I cherish that oath with everything that I am. Working for TVA gives me that same sense of service and I treat it just like I did in the military.”
During his active duty, stationed with the 82nd Airborne, and National Guard experience, Roy served in the U.S., Korea, Italy, Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan, with several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. While deployed, Roy and his team saw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and small arms fire. His team was tasked with house searches, convoy clearance and prisoner transport. He made more than 100 successful jumps in his 18 years of active duty and attended Air Assault School after leaving active duty and joining the Tennessee National Guard. He cherishes that time.
“I have a never-ending sense of respect for my fellow servicemen and
One of Roy’s greatest memories of his time in the military happened while home on leave.
“I met a young woman who I now proudly call my wife and best friend,” Roy shared about meeting his wife, Kim. “She had two small children (Kaytlyn and Jacob) of her own, and it didn’t take me long to realize that this was the family I was missing. Shortly after we were married, I asked her if I could adopt the children and become their dad. I wanted to show them that I was just as committed to them as I was their mom … We were granted the adoption and have loved each and every minute of it.”
Robert “Ryan” Gupton
Watershed Representative / Marine Corps
In 1997, Ryan Gupton enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps at the young age of 17. There, he served in the infantry and a quick year and a half later, he was selected to join the ranks of the coveted Force Recon Platoon, where he would go on to serve as the team sniper and, subsequently, team leader, then later platoon sergeant.
Ryan spent the majority of his military career in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Quantico, Virginia, as well as Okinawa, Japan. He also completed a four-year tour at 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, and another four-year tour at Headquarters Marine Corps. He was trained as a sniper, parachutist, combatant diver and explosive breecher.
“I literally got to live the life of a video game,” he says.
Ryan’s career spanned from 17 to 44 years old, during which time he experienced many lasting memories. One of his most profound memories still has an effect on him today.
In 2004, while deployed in Fallujah, Iraq, Ryan’s vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED), immobilizing and concussing the team and their vehicle. Soon, the team received a positive identification of the men who triggered the device, and they began to engage. While experiencing an overhaul on adrenaline and chaos all around him, Ryan spotted an Iraqi man around the engagement area who appeared to be dazed and confused. As Ryan began to dial his sniper rifle in on the
individual and was about to engage, he felt something wasn’t right.
Within seconds, Ryan felt an immediate moment of clarity both in his heart and gut, leading him to believe this man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Once the team was granted an all-clear, Ryan and his teammate approached the man and noticed he was grazed in the arm by machine gun fire. Ryan quickly tended to his wounds and turned him over to his father, who had run up crying and begging the soldiers to spare his son’s life. Without Ryan’s amazing moment of clarity and listening to his heart, an innocent man would have lost his life.
“Go with your gut instinct and trust with your heart,” is something that Ryan preaches and lives by each day.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Ryan only applied for jobs at organizations whose mission was something he believed in.
“This led me to TVA because our ideas and goals aligned with my own,” he says.
Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science to help support his post-military career.
Today, Ryan works as a watershed representative in the Recreation- West Region Paris, Tennessee, office. Some of his duties include recreation agreements, security assurances, violations and encroachments, as well as other supporting efforts that are part of the 26A permitting process. Ryan’s responsibility spans the Kentucky Lake Reservoir from Pickwick Dam to Kentucky Dam.
Though now with TVA, Ryan will never forget his military roots.
“My military service means the world to me. Patriotism and servitude to our nation are very important to me. I loved being in the military and will cherish that time for the rest of my life.”
Holly Nixon
Integrated Supply Program Manager / Army
Watching the events of Sept. 11, 2001, play out from her sixthgrade classroom left Holly Nixon in shock and disbelief. To cope with that devastation, Holly collected news articles, pasting together documentation of the war on terror and all that it entailed.
“I knew then that I would serve my country, driven by a calling to avenge the 2,977 victims of 9/11 and to ensure that our citizens would never experience such an atrocity again,” she says.
At 19, amidst the global recession, she felt it was time to act on this calling, and to follow in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.
“I drove to the recruiter’s office and signed up. Three months later, I embarked on my journey as a 92A, Supply Chain specialist.”
Holly served in the U.S. Army from 2009 to 2013 and was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska. During her service, she deployed to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012 and was based at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno, located just north of Khost City on the Pakistan border.
“I was assigned to the 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, and I worked in Support Operations, Maintenance. I oversaw five motor pools in our Brigade, tracked non-mission-
capable equipment and vehicles, drafted reports to the United States Army Alaska (USARAK), secured funding, and coordinated repairs. While deployed in Afghanistan, my responsibilities extended to managing both equipment and personnel in Regional Command East.”
Today, Holly works as the Program Manager for TVA’s Integrated Supply Program where she ensures that TVA’s plants receive all necessary repair, maintenance and operational materials to maintain business continuity. Her time in the Army set the stage for TVA’s mission of service, too.
“Here I’m continuing to serve and protect the well-being of our communities. In the Army, my focus was on ensuring that my team had the necessary resources and support to complete our mission successfully. At TVA, I carry that same commitment by ensuring our plants receive the repair, maintenance and operational materials they need to keep running smoothly. Just as in the military, where our efforts ensured the safety and success of our operations, my work at TVA ensures the reliability and continuity of power for a sevenstate region. This reliability is critical for hospitals, schools, businesses and homes, impacting millions of lives every day. By keeping the lights on, we contribute to the stability and prosperity of our communities, much like my military service aimed to protect and support our nation.”
And while Holly’s military service revolved around support of our country, there were moments of levity that helped her bond with those she served alongside.
“I have so many wonderful memories from my time in the Army, and they all revolve around the bonds I formed with the people with whom I served and the profound sense of purpose I felt. The camaraderie we shared was unparalleled. We came from diverse backgrounds, yet we were united by a common mission and the challenges we faced together.”
Jim Polickoski
Fleet Nuclear Projects General Manager / Navy
At TVA, Jim Polickoski is General Manager, Fleet Nuclear Projects.
To the Navy Reserve, he’s Captain James T. Polickoski, deputy commander, Readiness Command Everett, Washington. At home, he’s husband and dad.
“I became a Navy Reservist in 1999, and I vividly remember 9/11. I’m a reservist because I want to do everything I can to keep war an away game, far from our shores,” he said.
After 35 years of service, Jim recently retired from the Navy Reserve and a decorated military career, all while keeping up with his civilian career at TVA.
“It’s difficult to juggle a career and military service, especially working in a 24/7 operations business like TVA,” he said. “Many times, I’ve had to work nights and weekends, depending on where I was in the world, to either meet requirements for the Navy or keep up with the workload at TVA.”
“I honestly never understood reservists until I became one and realized how much it impacts your family and day-to-day life.”
Jim said the commitment often far exceeds the one weekend a month and two weeks per year expectation for a reservist.
“In my experience, I spend more like a third of my year dedicated to military service, including travel to places like our coasts, the Midwest, Alaska and all over the planet.”
His career took him to more than 50 countries and all 50 states, with active-duty tours on ships out of Mayport, Florida, and Norfolk, Virginia, and reserve commands from Yorktown, Virginia, to San Diego, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta and Everett, Washington. He served as commanding officer five times in commands that supported our Fleets, NATO, Military Logistics, and Merchant Shipping.
Most recently, he supported resuming merchant shipping in the Black Sea after Russia invaded Ukraine and shipping came to a halt. As one of the only senior officers in the Navy specializing in military sustainment of merchant maritime travel, he was uniquely qualified and spent a few months helping to restore global commerce. Other recent calls for support included COVID and the Afghan withdrawal.
He served 15 months in Afghanistan from 2011-2013 directing Afghan Police training and serving as a convoy commander throughout the country, even pushing the boundaries for freedom by restarting the Afghan
Scouts Program and teaching girls how to drive, which is forbidden.
“In the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program, I was able to train and operate actual reactors. This makes the Navy a trusted resource for companies, like TVA, to recruit in the energy industry,” he said. “I know many coworkers and colleagues who served in the Navy, as well.”
In retirement from the Navy Reserve, he’s excited about spending more time with his wife, JoAnn, and his five children, Kate, Sarah, Nick, Johnathan and Megan; taking more crosscountry RV trips; and finally setting up the model trains he’s collected from all over the world.
“I couldn’t have had the kind of career I have without the love and support of my wife, JoAnn. She’s a saint.”
Karen Spence
Contracts Manager / Coast Guard
After watching the Coast Guard Helios fly over Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey when she was 28 years old, Karen realized that she wanted to be a part of something bigger in life. The lasting image of planes flying over the beach propelled her to join the U.S. Coast Guard in 2008.
Karen says she felt serving her country was the right thing to do in her life at the time, and she was eager to follow the path her service would lead her down.
Karen attended basic training in Cape May, New Jersey, and became a part of the graduating company, X-Ray 180. In 2010, she entered the Airman Program at the Air Station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
During her time on active duty, Karen wore many hats. Around two years in, she quickly became a small boat crewman on the 41-foot platform and the 25-foot small boat. Along with this, she successfully passed the Storekeeper Rating test without even having to attend Storekeeper “A” School.
Karen would continue her journey and receive orders in 2012 to return to Elizabeth City, where she worked for the Aviation Logistics Center Procurement Branch. In 2016,
Karen supported the Coast Guard District Five Auxiliary Division as an independent storekeeper. This consisted of managing budgets, property and procurement requests. In 2020, she would serve her last active-duty tour in Norfolk, supporting the Surface Force Logistics Center.
Karen holds plenty of fond memories from her active-duty days. One of her favorite memories is being able to ride on each of the different aircrafts and vessels located at each unit. Some of these aircrafts and vessels include a C-130 and a H-60 Jayhawk.
After 14 years of admirable active service duty, Karen would join the Coast Guard Reserves in 2022. Wanting to reach the amazing milestone of 20 years of dedicated service, Karen drills at Sector Ohio Valley located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, helping support the finance and supply division.
This past April, Karen joined TVA. Her ability to adapt and embrace new challenges from her military background propels her forward each day.
In her words, “TVA has provided me the continued opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself.”
By aligning core values between the Coast Guard and TVA, Karen
continues to carry honor, respect and devotion to duty in her work.
Karen is a mother to her beautiful 13-year-old twin daughters. As for her military career, Karen says she would not go back and change a thing.
Meet Karen Spence, a contracts manager supporting ESS and ITS business units.
Matt Lovitt
Director of Safety / Navy
Matt Lovitt works to ensure safety is paramount at TVA in his role as Director of Safety. But long before he came to TVA, he was playing a role in securing the safety of U.S. Navy ships while he served aboard the USS Roosevelt – a guided-missile destroyer.
“When I was on the Roosevelt, I stood watch and looked for other ships that may be nearby. I also compared our real position to where we were expecting to be and directed course changes, and I tracked other ships and aircraft. In addition to these tasks, I also developed and implemented training plans and stood watch in port,” he said.
Matt recalls a time in 2002 when his ship was operating in another nation’s waters and significant security measures were in place.
“One night, we were driving at flank speed through a congested area,”
he said. “I was on the bridge of the ship standing behind the helmsman, making sure the helmsman did exactly what the conning officer directed. Everything seemed fine, and then the commanding officer yelled out ‘This is the commanding officer. I have the conn. Hard right rudder!’ No one expected nor understood that order, but he obviously saw or knew something we did not.
“I made sure the helmsman ordered the rudder to hard right. The ship was leaning far to the left as we were turning right, and then the commanding officer sharply ordered ‘shift your rudder,’ which means to take the rudder to the opposite position of where it just was. I watched the helmsman go from hard right to hard left. The ship started rolling from left to right, and as it did, the commanding officer walked out to the port (left) bridge wing. Our eyes followed his movement, and then we all saw a 200+ foot fishing boat come within 30 feet of us as we were traveling at over 30 knots. The commanding officer watched the fishing boat until it cleared our stern, then he came in and ordered ‘rudder amidships,’ which means to stop the turn. Then he said ‘conning officer –you have the conn’ and that was it.
“In those 90 seconds, I learned a significant lesson about leadership. While a leader can delegate some authorities, the leader can never delegate the accountabilities and responsibilities that come with those authorities.”
Matt graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 and draws a parallel between his Naval experience and his work as TVA’s Director of Safety.
“My job at TVA requires a great amount of teamwork and reliance on others to fulfill their portion of the team effort. However, I am ultimately responsible for the work of my team and the various enterprise efforts for which we play significant roles.”
Matt joined TVA in 2008, first as a Senior Reactor Operator at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, then as an operations shift manager and lead of Sequoyah’s Chemistry and Environmental Department. He then went to Watts Bar in 2018 to become the Senior Manager of Quality Assurance and rejoined Sequoyah in 2020 as the director of Plant Support before becoming TVA’s Director of Safety.
Matt continues his work as a Navy Reservist – he’s the commanding officer of Marine Expeditionary Security Squadron One (MSRON-1) Company Delta.
“I have always felt like my Navy and TVA experiences have complemented each other,” he said. “Both organizations are founded on service, both require extensive teamwork and commitment, and both are filled with awesome people who go the extra mile to accomplish a task.”
Kevin Baker
Maintenance Coordinator at Shawnee Fossil Plant / Army
Kevin Baker remembers hearing his grandfather tell stories about his time in the service, and grew up hearing about his stepfather’s military career, as well. Then one day, when he was 17 years old, a recruiter approached him and asked if he wanted to join the Army.
“I told him ‘sure.’ It was actually on a whim and when the dust settled, I asked myself ‘what have I done?’”
That snap decision led him to a career in the U.S. Army that spanned a quarter of a century. With six years active duty and 19 years in reserves, Kevin spent time stationed in Hawaii, Ft. Sill, Iraq, Ft. Bliss Texas, and spent years as a drill sergeant at Ft. Knox, Ft. Leonard Wood, Ft. Sill and Ft. Jackson.
“Some of the fondest memories for me were the time I spent in Hawaii in my earlier career and seeing some of the different areas of the country,” he recalls. “But the best memories were when I was a drill instructor training soldiers. It meant a lot to me to know that the training they were receiving from me and the knowledge I was passing down would either make or break them in their military careers. I took pride in making sure that even though I was hard on them, I took the time to teach them as well. I served with some really good mentors and had really good soldiers under me that played a big part in how I treat people even today. Those kinds of memories stick with you.”
Today, Kevin works as a Maintenance Coordinator at Shawnee Fossil Plant in Kentucky, as serves as the TVA/ Veterans Association Employee Resource Group Champion.
“The leadership training that I received in the Army as well as the interactions and communications with different areas have played a huge role in my success here at TVA,” he said. With hundreds of Veterans employed at TVA, helping them find a home among those who have similar backgrounds and experiences has an exponential impact. “As the Champion of the TVA/VA ERG, it is my duty to help the Veterans that we have working here at TVA in every way possible. There are more than 1,800 Veterans that work for TVA and we have a responsibility to each of them to help them and push them to succeed in fulfilling TVA’s overall mission.”
Kevin says he sees parallels between his work at TVA and his service in the Army.
“As a member of the Armed Forces, you commit to serving the people of the U.S. Protection and service are the core values. The same goes here at TVA. We were formed to serve the people of the Valley and created to better the lives of all the people in it. TVA was brought about to actually help the Veterans coming back from the war find work. TVA to this day still has the obligation of serving the people of the Valley.
“Being a part of the Army carried over well to this organization. TVA does a lot in the communities we serve through the Employee Resource Groups, community relations, and by the work we do each day to keep the lights on. It may sound cliché to say we serve the people of the Valley, but it is the truth and I actually have more respect around that statement the longer I have been here and the more that I get involved with the Veterans of TVA.”
—Russell Buckner
—Scott
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to serve this great nation. I would do it again in a
—Joshua
My journey of service follows a continuous thread—woven from my military roots, from a deep sense of duty to safeguard our way of life, and from a mission that connects my past to my present. For me, the mission has always been the same: serving my country and serving the people of the Tennessee Valley.
—Daniel Giraldo
—Matt Kirschenheiter
—Tommy
—Julie Soutuyo
Everything I learned in the Marine Corps applies to my civilian life — except for the explosives part, I can’t apply that area (legally). Honor, courage, commitment, loyalty, never give up!
It was truly an honor and privilege to serve our country from 2000-2004 with my fellow soldiers, stateside and overseas, in the U.S. Army. I am now just as grateful to serve the people of the Tennessee Valley with my co-workers at TVA.
—Dustin L. Wright
