Photo by Adam Baker
Thousands of dedicated Pantex citizens like Alex Gonzalez 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.
Before earning his place at Pantex, End-User Support Technician Alex Gonzalez worked a variety of jobs, collecting name tags, logoed shirts, and paychecks across different industries. Whether he was waiting tables or working logistics, one underlying interest remained.
“Tech has always appealed to me,” Gonzalez said. “I decided to finally turn my hobby into a career. I went to college, earned my associate degree, and then started working closer with networks and computers.”
Gonzalez knew of Pantex, yet a job at the facility felt unattainable. But after reaching the end of advancement opportunities at his previous job, he took a shot and applied. It just so happened that IT at Pantex was looking for someone with his skillset. Two years later, he’s still proud to be here.
“I’m proud to be a Pantexan because of the history and legacy that comes with the name,” Gonzalez said. “My father-in-law worked at Pantex for 44 years and, while we only had a bit of overlap when I started, it was important to him to show me where he worked and what he did. And him doing that was important to me in a passing-of-the-torch sense.”
As an end-user support technician, Gonzalez assists many divisions at Pantex. Being one of the faces of IT, he’s able to take advantage of what he truly enjoys most about working out here.
“The people,” Gonzalez said. “When I help a customer, there are moments where we’re waiting for software to install or an update to finish. During those times, I’ll usually ask about their backgrounds and experiences.”
Customer-centric at heart and in practice, Gonzalez is ready to help his fellow Pantexans, even if the issue turns out to be unrelated to IT.
“Reaching out for help can sometimes feel intimidating or like you may be burdening someone,” Gonzalez said. “But you don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s OK. I’m happy to talk, so ask me anything and we can guide you through your question. If I’m not the one to fix an issue, I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.”
Why is being open to learn from others critical for mission success?
Be open to listening and exploring those unique perspectives. Doing so may help you better navigate different challenges.
Why is communication important for your team to succeed?
Communication is important for my team because of how spread out we are. The Information Technology Service Management organization covers the PAC, JCDC, and the plant. Establishing open lines of communication is how we better understand what’s happening in each area and the trends we are noticing, and we share that knowledge to help each other.
What’s your favorite outside-of-work activity and why?
I enjoy spending my time with my wife and pets. I also enjoy movies, video games, and TV. Shows like “The Office” or “The Big Bang Theory” are always playing in the background. On top of being entertainment, it’s a storytelling medium I enjoy.