Y-12er spotlight: Eric H.

Eric H. began his Y‑12 career as a chemical operator in 2001, fresh out of community college.

The Y‑12er spotlight shines on one of our own, Eric H., deputy director of Enriched Uranium Operations. It takes all Y‑12 employees to make the mission happen successfully and safely. All views and opinions are the employee’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of CNS.

In 23 years at Y‑12, Eric H. has seen and done a lot.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of people, and I’ve had the opportunity to be part of different processes and projects. It has been a pleasure to be here.”

He came to Y‑12 as a chemical operator in 2001 and followed that with various roles of increasing responsibility across the Operations organization. Today, he is deputy director of Enriched Uranium Operations. In that role, he assists and fills in for the EUO Director and manages approximately 260 production employees who process enriched uranium into a safe and compliant form for long-term storage, for disposition, or to meet various deliverables such as casting parts for weapons programs or supplying fuel to the nuclear navy, commercial and research reactors, and other customers.

“When I first got here as a chemical operator, I came from construction and agriculture,” Eric remembered. “I came in, got dressed out, and started learning the procedures. It was a challenge to adjust to the rigor and procedural compliance of the nuclear processes being done here.”

Fast forward a couples of decades: “I never would’ve imagined myself in this position. I never planned on being a leader of an organization.”

He came to Y‑12 not long after graduating with an associate’s degree in chemistry from Pellissippi State Technical Community College. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Tusculum College, while working at Y‑12.

His first impression of Y‑12 was a case of a dream clashing with reality.

“My vision of Y‑12 was that it was going to be this big high‑tech, spotless nuclear facility,” he said. “But in actuality, parts of the plant were old and dilapidated, two‑thirds of the equipment was not running, and there were many roof and process leaks throughout the work areas. I was not expecting that.”

Although an aging infrastructure can sometimes be a stumbling block, overcoming it is a source of pride for those working to achieve the mission in a challenging environment.

“We get it done, even with the old facilities,” Eric said. “We’re proud of that. There is pride in what we do here, pride in protecting the nation. I’m proud to work here because of the deterrent we are supporting. It’s helping to keep peace.”

How has working at CNS changed or reinforced your thoughts on our mission (nuclear deterrence, managing the stockpile, etc.)?
“Being here has definitely helped me hold a healthy respect for the nuclear industry and why we do this at Y‑12. Perceptions of what we do can keep adversaries from doing something wrong. There’s turbulence and instability across the world. There are countries who may consider launching a nuclear weapon, but then they look at the United States and our capabilities and think twice about it.”

Are you doing what you envisioned as a young adult?
“I envisioned my career to be more hands‑on, more technically oriented. I saw myself working in a lab or in a big chemical facility. Never saw myself assisting in the management of a team of 260 people who are doing the work I thought I might be doing. I’m surprised at where I started and where I am now.”

What’s your top bucket list item and why?
“I would like to visit all of the national parks throughout the U.S. I’ve been to several, like Yosemite and Sequoyah National Park out west. The United States is such a beautiful country. Going to the national parks is a great way to see it.”

We can often become overwhelmed at a work situation. Why is it important to remove yourself from a stressful situation? What advice do you offer to relax and decompress?
“It is extremely important to step away from a stressful situation to help make good decisions. We have to take stress breaks and decompress. For me, decompressing is doing something physical like mowing the yard or riding a bike through the woods. Once you clear your mind, you have a renewed perception and can come up with fresh and productive ideas.”