From WIP intern to senior director: Meet Tyler M.
In his short time in East Tennessee, Tyler M. has already experienced the intense fan noise in Neyland Stadium and enjoyed the serenity of the Smoky Mountains. Now his objective is ensuring Y‑12 employees complete FY 2025 Stockpile Programs mission work.
When “UT” is mentioned in East Tennessee, the default assumption is in reference to the University of Tennessee. This implication is new for the senior director of Stockpile Programs, Tyler M. As an Amarillo native, his first thought is the University of Texas, but he is slowly adapting to equating “UT” to the “University of Tennessee.” It helps his fiancée is a UT (yes, Tennessee) graduate.
Tyler, a Pantexan for 13 years, joined Y‑12 in November 2024. He replaced Reed Mullins, the current vice president of Mission Execution. Tyler is excited to be on the East Tennessee side of the Nuclear Security Enterprise mission, surrounded by mountains and rivers. “I love having the opportunity to learn about Y‑12’s production capabilities and material streams. At Pantex, we received Y‑12’s finished product. It is enlightening to witness the complexity of manufacturing the mission deliverables.”
Tyler realizes there will be challenges ahead as Y‑12 adapts to the growing workload. “Stockpile Programs is responsible for the strategic planning of scope, schedule, and cost associated with weapon deliverables at Y‑12. We recognize the demand will continue to increase and require a more agile and efficient approach to mission execution,” he said. “I am fortunate to have a strong and knowledgeable team capable of this critical endeavor.”
Tyler, who has a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in systems and engineering management, started his career as a tool design engineer at Pantex. He graduated from the Sandia National Laboratories Weapon Intern Program in 2017, during which time he visited Y‑12 for the first time. After his WIP graduation, Tyler worked as the manager responsible for the weapon programs’ safety basis. Following this role, he was a weapon program manager and observed the star stamp of the first production unit. In 2022, he was selected to be the senior technical advisor for production for NA‑122, also known as the Office of Stockpile Sustainment, at the National Nuclear Security Administration Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
As a former West Texas A&M University baseball player, Tyler understands the importance of teamwork and recognizes it as the most impactful CNS value. “Teamwork is required to successfully execute our mission. The three additional CNS values of trust, integrity, and respect provide a strong foundation for teamwork.”
Tyler is ready to support the mission in his new role and said, “It takes the whole site to make Y‑12 successful. Let’s continue addressing FY 2025 milestones and have a successful year.”