Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Jason Armstrong, Pantex Field Office Manager

How do you support NNSA?

I am the Pantex Field Office Manager for the NNSA Pantex Plant in Amarillo, TX. Pantex is the nation’s primary site for assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons and is a key element in maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.

What is your personal background, and how has that shaped you and your approach to your career?

I was born in San Diego, CA, raised in San Jose, CA. While my mom went to school and worked full time, I was co-raised by my grandmother and great-grandmother. They both came to the United States from Chihuahua, Mexico. They instilled in me great pride in my Hispanic heritage, ensuring that I learned Spanish and understood and lived our culture.

They always emphasized the great opportunity of living in the United States. They valued hard work, education, family, importance of community, and always following through on commitments. In 1980, my mom married my stepfather (papa), a nuclear engineer and immigrant to the United States from Austria. Together, they encouraged me to pursue opportunities, not be risk adverse, keep learning, and treat others with respect.

What did you study in school and how did it impact you personally and professionally?

In 1988, I pursued degrees in Communications and Economics. After graduating in 1991, my papa gave me an opportunity to work at a nuclear power plant as a laborer. At the time, it was not my intended career path, but it shaped my future. It was at the nuclear power plant that I was first introduced to radiation safety and health physics. After completing the training to become a health physics technician, I worked at several nuclear power plants across the country as a health physics technician supporting nuclear power plant refueling outages. I loved health physics because it blended communicating risks to employees and accomplishing high risk nuclear work.

In 1994, I went back to college and graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Health Physics from Oregon State University in 1996. In 2006, I became a Certified Health Physicist by the American Board of Health Physics. 

What led you to a career in nuclear security?

In 2005, I joined the Department of Energy as a Health Physicist and Facility Representative within the Office of Science. It was in the Office of Science that I was involved in many National Nuclear Security Administration programs that supported nuclear security missions at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

In 2010, I transferred to the Office of Environmental Management where I executed the cleanup of many legacy nuclear security production sites (e.g. Hanford, Oak Ridge, Los Alamos). In 2015, I joined NNSA first as a nuclear safety engineer, then as a Deputy Assistant Manager for NNSA Programs and Projects, and later as the Assistant Manager for Nuclear Safety and Engineering. In 2021, I was promoted to the Field Office Manager at the Savannah River Site, and then blessed with the opportunity to serve as the Field Office Manager at the Pantex Plant.

What is the best part about your job?

The absolute best part of my job is the people. I see every day people exceling and doing their very best to execute our national security mission. It’s truly a privilege and honor to create pathways for people to accomplish what is thought to be the impossible. It’s even a greater honor to see people move into roles of increasing responsibility and expertise when he or she did not think they could. I love seeing and hearing stories of my teammates achieving unimaginable milestones of success by being a supportive and enduring leader.

What is your proudest accomplishment while supporting NNSA?

Since joining NNSA 8 years ago, I’ve had many technical accomplishments that I am very proud of. In the last 4 years, I am most proud of my accomplishments as a leader. I have found the most joy and proud moments seeing those around me become successful; either by me removing a barrier or encouraging them to take a risk. As a leader, we can have a positive impact on a person’s life; personally, and professionally. It’s awesome being an impactful part of someone’s life that truly makes a difference.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I love backgammon! The game blends both luck and opportunity. When I am not playing backgammon, my other joy is traveling with my wife and sharing new experiences with her. I am blessed with 4 amazing kids who are all making an impact in the world we live in. Pretty cool.

What advice would you have for anyone interested in a career in public service?

A career in public service is very rewarding! Your work is meaningful and impactful to the nation and people you serve. A career in public service opens doors to not just a job, but a calling. My advice, pick a career path that aligns with your personal goals, pursue a degree in that field, and focus on becoming a great teammate.

Who is someone that inspires you and why?

I love listening to Simon Sinek. I really like his approach to what it means to be a leader, teammate, and citizen. Someday I would love to listen to him talk in person, and better yet, invite him to Pantex to meet the Pantex Field Office team!

How do you plan to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month?

One of the most fun ways I love to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month is to enjoy Spanish cuisine throughout the entire month and share stories of my upbringing in a Mexican household with my kids. They are in awe when I tell them how strong and courageous my grandmother and great grandmother were in their journey to the United States.