To celebrate Veterans Day, EM highlights former service members who have joined EM on their journey in civilian work-life.
Anthony Vivino is an instructor in the Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) Training Group, specializing in conduct of operations and electrical safety training. IEC is EM’s cleanup contractor at the DOE Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site.
It’s a position made possible, in large part, due to his 12 years of service in the U.S. Navy.
Vivino’s military career started with basic training and machinist mate “A” school in Great Lakes, Illinois, nuclear power school training in Orlando, Florida, then the nuclear power training unit in Windsor Lockes, Connecticut.
Secure in his understanding of the Navy nuclear power equipment and program, Vivino received orders to serve on the USS Stonewall Jacson, SSBN-634, where he qualified as an engine room supervisor. After his service on SSBN-634, he transferred to SSBN-659, the USS Will Rogers, serving two years. His experience at sea taught him a lot and excited him to share and teach others. He transferred to Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, where he qualified as a radiation controls shift supervisor, then he finished his naval career onboard SSN-674, the USS Trepang.
Perhaps the most memorable aspect of Vivino’s naval career was the confidence it instilled in him. After entering the Navy, he realized he had the right knowledge and training to operate and work on a nuclear-powered submarine. It all started with the experience that he gained while stationed aboard the USS Stonewall Jackson.
“My Navy experience helped me to understand the value of training to get experience. It’s that feeling of helping others, and the satisfaction of watching them succeed that guided me on my path to be a training instructor for IEC,” Vivino said.
His naval experience also prepared him well for his work at IEC, as nuclear work for the Department of Energy is based on the lessons of the Navy’s nuclear power program.
“The conduct of operations training that is integral to IEC’s mission is based on what I learned in the Navy. I appreciate what I learned during the early part of my career, which has proven instrumental in my current work of being part of a well-recognized, continuously improving Con Ops program at IEC.”
Reflecting on his 14 years working with the INL Site’s environmental management program contractors, Vivino is proud of his accomplishments and thankful for his tenure in the Navy.
“I’m grateful for following my instincts and signing up for the Navy. It has proven to be the basis of a secure career; one where I see my instruction helping my co-workers perform their work effectively and safely every day.”