To celebrate Veterans Day this year, EM is highlighting former service members who have joined EM on their journey in civilian work-life!
What is your name and what do you do at EM?
Charles Koss, Department of Energy.
Office of Safeguards, Security, and Emergency Services; 2008 – current.
Security Specialist Team Lead – Responsible for the safeguards and security programs, specifically, providing oversight of the Savannah River Site’s protective force.
What branch did you serve in; when; where stationed?
United States Marine Corps – 1985-1989; Okinawa, Japan and Camp Lejeune, NC
United States Army Reserve – 1991 – 2012 – Fort Gordon, GA; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Bragg, NC.
Kandahar, Afghanistan; Baghdad, Iraq
Retired 2012 – Chief Warrant Officer 3 – All Source Intelligence Technician
Most memorable event/moment during your service?
United States Marine Corps – Parris Island – Boot Camp; (Why is this guy so mad at me?)
Kandahar, Afghanistan – January 2002 – Mission was to have conversations with the persons who delivered the 9/11 World Trade Towers tragedy and to ensure that this would not occur again.
How has your military service helped prepare you for the job you do in EM?
Everything from the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful), to my Warrant Officer training and being the technical and tactical professional has created my professional foundation. Because of my military background, I believe I have a better understanding of the threats to DOE assets and how to protect them. I can also draw on my military experiences and share them as a security professional in the role I am assigned.
When did you begin working for EM and what got you interested in the cleanup mission?
When I left the Marine Corps in 1989, I was employed by the protective force security contractor at SRS, which was during the SRS reactor restart period. I felt the pulse of DOE and I was hooked! I knew at that point, security within DOE would be my destiny. In 2008, my dream was realized.
One Team, One Fight…