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Happy Veterans Day. Today we honor all who served in the military, whether it was during conflict or peacetime. I count myself fortunate to work at NiSource, where there is an appreciation for the skills and values that Veterans and those who are still in the reserves bring to NiSource. This observance is particularly special as it reminds me of my time as an enlisted Petty officer with the Navy, all the good people that I served with, both of my grandfathers who served in the Navy. 

The Navy was a natural progression from the military high school I attended where I thrived on the structure and leadership opportunities. I enlisted in the Navy to help pay for my education and to learn new skills, but during my first assignment on the USS Nimitz, we were deployed for the Middle East to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom, giving me perspective on what it meant to serve in the military and defend our country. I retired as a Navy Petty Officer First Class in 2005. 

The skills I cultivated during my time in the Navy proved foundational to my work here at NiSource. When I was first assigned to the Navy Nuclear program, I was taught that safety and risk mitigation were a top priority. I also learned to work with people from all walks of life. Learning how to work well with others and living together gave me the insight to accept that there isn’t just one way to do things. Perhaps the most important thing that I learned while in the Navy is that you must honor your commitments and keep your word because people’s lives depend on it. That lesson stays with you forever and translates to my role at NiSource.