To celebrate Veterans Day, EM highlights former service members who have joined EM on their journey in civilian work-life.
James EOD Grad: This photo was taken in 2003 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida when I “pinned” my 18-year-old son James Bevins at his Explosive Ordnance Disposal graduation ceremony. He was the distinguished honor graduate. James went onto get an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee and a doctorate in nuclear engineering from University of California Berkey, after a tour in Bosnia. He currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force.
Name and what you do at EM?
Roger D. Bevins, facility representative, Facility Oversight Division, Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO).
What branch did you serve in; when; where stationed? How many years of service?
US Army, 22.5 years with multiple assignments. My last assignment was a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where I served as the Task Force-180 Senior Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Operations Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) supporting all US and coalition forces that included the International Security Assistance Force.
Most memorable event/moment during your service?
Serving as the Task Force EOD Senior NCO in Panama, to clear firing, training, and live impact ranges for turn over under the 1977 Panama Canal treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian Chief of Government Omar Torrijos, brought me great pride. I was part of the history that made the country safer for Panamanians and tourists who visit there.
While out on an ordnance cache disposal mission in the vicinity of Gardez, Afghanistan is in the Paktia Province, our team interacted with some locals. Several boys were fascinated with our cameras and wanted to have their picture taken so they could see themselves on the camera display. I was up for a memorable picture with the Boys of Gardez, of course.
How has your military service helped prepare you for the job you do in EM?
From day one, the Army teaches soldiers how to be a part of a team and builds upon that foundation to have them constitute and lead world class teams. The diversity of my assignments and experience has well equipped me to plug into the EM team, work towards facility representative qualifications and contribute to that field.
When did you begin working for EM and what got you interested in the cleanup mission?
I started with EM in June of 2024. My wife works for CBFO and spoke highly of her teammate interactions, so I decided to compete for a position at CBFO/Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. I have a cousin who worked for 30 years at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and I have a son who is in the Air Force serving as Ph.D. nuclear engineer. It seemed like a good fit for me to be a part of the nuclear process as well.