The People Powering OSI

A lot has changed and remained the same. There is the same dedication to the mission, but also modernization to support the cutting edge for our women and men in uniform. Let’s meet some of the experts supporting these iconic sites.

• Meet Barry Facilities Manager

• Meet Lesia Executive Assistant

• Meet Tyler Product Engineer

• Meet Stephanie Quality Manager

• Meet Cody Research Engineer

• Meet Kelly Research and Development Director

• Meet Tom Director of Operations

• Meet Raymond HMX Team Leader

• Meet Ben Manufacturing Manager

• Meet Caroline Compliance Manager

• Meet Curtis Training Specialist

• Meet Hobart Chemical Engineer

• Meet Kelly S. Holston Production Manager

• Meet Marty Facilities Manager

• Meet Nathan Safety Industrial Hygienist

• Meet Randal Finance Manager

• Meet Rodger Chemical Process Engineer

• Meet Virgil Research and Development Manager

Facilities Manager

44+ years of service, and he’s never looked back.

Barry knew exactly where he wanted to work, and he didn’t take no for an answer. In February of 1976 Barry showed up for weeks at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP), Monday through Friday only to be told there were no jobs available. But on his birthday, 43 years ago, his luck changed, and Barry was told there was a job for him at RFAAP. He’s never looked back.

Barry has worked in various roles in almost every area of the plant. Today, he works in the maintenance department as the Maintenance Manager. But his knowledge of the site and its history of production processes is incredibly valuable.

Today, the demand for 155mm artillery has increased, and RFAAP was able to answer the call. Relying on Barry’s institutional knowledge, the team was able to work quickly and fulfill the needs of the Army. This remarkable effort has been acknowledged by the Under Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army and Congressional stakeholders, such as Rep. Rob Wittman and Sen. Tim Kaine.

Barry is considered to be the heartbeat of the plant and the go-to guy for answering any technical questions. Barry’s passion for RFAAP, the team, and the mission remain steadfast.“I want this facility to be strong and continue to thrive. We have a critical job—to protect those in uniform as well as provide careers for hardworking individuals—and it’s important to take pride in what we do.”

Today, Barry shows his gratitude for his fulfilling career by giving back to the next generation of RFAAP employees and teaching them the why and how of doing things the right way.

Executive Assistant

Came for the job. Stayed for the Legacy.

Lesia originally joined the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) 35 years ago. As a working mother, she wanted her role to serve a cause while also supporting her family, so she took a job at RFAAP. She knew it was an important place to be because her father worked at RFAAP for 29 years.

Lesia was originally hired to work as an Administrative Assistant, supporting the leadership staff. When BAE Systems took over in 2012, she transitioned to supporting the Senior Leadership Team and, today, she serves as the Executive Admin to our current OSI VP/GM and his staff.

Over the years, Lesia’s watched our business, our Customer, and our world transform, and she’s watched how RFAAP has adapted to it. Being a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) facility means the Customer is right down the hall, a unique position that allows the contractor to hear the Customer needs and concerns firsthand and work together in lockstep.

“We are serving our country, here, and we need the same level of dedication as our soldiers.”

And it’s dedication and knowledge like Lesia’s that make the difference in solving to win the fight for tomorrow. Every part of the Radford team’s daily duties matters in the fight for freedom—the freedom of families all over the world, who just want to go to work, support their loved ones, and live the lives they were meant to live.

That’s Lesia’s contribution. And that’s the site’s legacy.

Product Engineer

Doing his part for the mission.

Growing up in a multigeneration military family, Tyler knows the importance of service to his country. Tyler took his own path to support the military’s mission by coming to work at Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) and today, it means the world to him that his service at our site makes his family proud.

As a product engineer, Tyler oversees the production of products for our military customer. He likens his role to being a head chef: he ensures his “sous chefs” concoct signature recipes exactly as they are written so the product is perfect. Much like baking, mixing the chemical amounts and gradients that make propellants is an exact science. If measurements are off and the method isn’t right, the “cookie crumbles,” which could affect the quality of the propellant.

“What we do here at Radford directly affects the Warfighter overseas. It gives me the sense that I am doing my part in defending democracy and keeping our men and women in uniform safe.”

Quality Manager

Continual service to the mission.

Stephanie’s grandfather served in the U.S. Army, and her husband is a combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Because of this family history, she understands the critical role OSI plays in national security. Her work at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) is her way to continuing her family’s service to the military.

“What we do at Radford truly means something. I never served in the military myself, so it adds a level of pride to our day-to-day tasks because we are supporting our country and our Armed Forces.”

Stephanie’s first job at RFAAP was Senior Quality Analyst for the Rocket Area. There she gained valuable experience with production line support, which later translated to managing other site areas. Having worked on plant-wide process improvement projects, she was ready to move to her role as Quality Manager and then Senior Quality Manager. Today, her day-to-day role involves supporting her team in production, managing high-level projects, and engaging with the Army customer.

“It’s our job to be the voice of the customer. We must make sure we are meeting their needs and delivering a safe and effective product. That requires always doing the right thing for our business, mission, and Customer.”

In addition to her work at the plant, Stephanie is involved in employee engagement and community investment initiatives, giving back to the areas where the Radford team lives and works by supporting donation drives for Vittles for Vets and the Montgomery Country Animal Shelter, to name a couple. Stephanie helps to make sure the RFAAP workforce knows they are appreciated and valued for all that they do.

Research Engineer

Here to do work that matters.

At Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP), Cody supports the production of specialty products, and he is one of the proud few who knows how to make them.

Cody heard about RFAAP through a friend, and he joined the team almost a decade ago. He started as a production operator in the Green Lines area, moved to Quality, and quickly made his way to Research and Development, where he makes specialty propellants for space and fighter aircraft. For a large part of Cody’s career, he shared an office wall with teammates who made specialty propellants, one of whom had been making them for decades. This knowledge transfer shaped Cody’s career.

“I’ve been surrounded by folks who have made specialty propellants before me, and I consider myself lucky because it’s such a small group. I’ve been lucky enough to learn from two of the best in the industry.”

Cody takes immense pride in his job and holds his team to the highest standards to produce the safest product possible. These propellants are used for Cartridge Actuated/ Propellant Actuated Devices (CADPAD) such as canopy removers, ejection seats, and various space applications. As someone with a military-strong family, Cody knows how important it is that his loved ones, our country’s Warfighters, stay safe.

“At Radford, we’re diligent about what we do. Because it matters.”

Research and Development Director

Working at the speed of innovation.

During Kelly’s tenure at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP), she has founded and now leads the largest research and development team the plant has ever seen.

After graduating from Virginia Tech with a chemical engineering degree, Kelly heard about RFAAP from a now-colleague. Kelly was hired at RFAAP as a quality engineer, and she noticed there was something missing at Radford: a research and development team.

“I knew we needed to establish a research and development team as BAE Systems, and I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I made some phone calls and landed new contracts and secured enough investment to hire a team of five individuals. That’s how the Radford R&D team was born. Today we are staffed with highly capable scientists, engineers, technicians, and program managers.”

As a chemical engineer, a career in Research and Development is the ultimate professional playground. Much of Kelly’s job today involves business development and meeting with customers to manage projects and determine requirements. Her true passion, however, lies in working with her “eclectic team of scientists,” doing the kind of work that very few people get to do.

With strong ties to the military through her father, Kelly understands how her work directly impacts the Warfighters defending our democracy. With the help of her team, Kelly searches for and creates future solutions for the Warfighters who depend on their munitions to work every time.

“There’s nothing like hearing from our Warfighters who come back from combat and tell us how they never had to worry about the ammo not working. I’m proud to play a small part in keeping them safe so they can return home.”

Director of Operations

Transforming lives & supporting national security.

One thing has remained constant throughout Tom’s extensive career in the chemical industry: his dedication to motivating and shaping the people who work with him.

“We develop work processes around engagement. As a leader, you’re there to help drive everyone to success.”

Tom joined the team at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) as the Director of Manufacturing, but, soon after, he was asked to serve as the Interim General Manager. While in that role, the U.S. Army needed RFAAP’s capability to ramp up production. Tom led the team through production and replenishment efforts, breaking production records as he and the team worked to meet Customer demand.

“That’s part of the legacy of the plant. Radford steps up and rises to the occasion, and that means that everyone here must do the same to support the impact of our work and the life of the Warfighter.”

Today, as Director of Operations, Tom has a working knowledge of the entire site after learning the business at its deepest and highest levels. He takes pride in working with the people at RFAAP. Although he did not serve in the military himself, he has close family ties to the military, and he understands the critical need for production at the site. Every day, he focuses on motivating his team to connect their processes to the site’s greater purpose to protect the Warfighter.

HMX Team Leader

One Man. Almost 40 Years of Dedication and Leadership.

Raymond will soon round the corner on four decades of service at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant, a dedicated career that today could be considered a rarity.

“I am blessed to have had the opportunity to work here and stay this long...  I have witnessed a lot of change,” noted Raymond. “But our work at Holston is different and our attitude is different. You are given an assignment and you get your job done.”

Since starting at Holston nearly 39 years ago, Raymond has served in three different departments, from cleanup to production, before coming into his current role as HMX Team Leader, a position he has held for the past 13 years. Today, Raymond is responsible for all HMX-based products produced at the plant, including overseeing the product team and ensuring results are cost effective and on time. Raymond is also responsible for ensuring his team is safe and practicing safe processes.

“In my area we practice two-person verification, what we call take two. We always have two people review a task and verify that nothing is in our way or would be the source of an unsafe process,” says Raymond. “If you are not safe, you cannot work. We make sure we have four eyes on our processes at all times.”

Raymond continues to coach his team on the importance of safety. Most recently, BAE Systems started working with safety consulting firm DEKRA, a global leader in workplace safety, to enhance safety efforts and procedures at Holston. DEKRA’s Executive Leading with Safety program is designed to help enhance safety leadership knowledge and skills for upper-level managers and directors at Holston.

“DEKRA training is both a teaching tool and learning experience. It ensures we are properly training our staff, checking on employees, making sure they have what they need such as proper PPE, and offering positive feedback when we see the team making good safety decisions.”

As part of the DEKRA training at Holston, team leaders create a safety slogan. Raymond lives by his safety slogan: “Good Work Behaviors. Good Work Habits. Good Attitudes. One Heartbeat.” For Raymond this means the team is working safely together and with a positive attitude.

“The most rewarding aspect of my role is seeing my guys being successful. But we work together no matter what. We win as a team, and we fail as a team,” he states.

As Raymond reflects on his many years at Holston, a rewarding career that spans nearly four decades: “My career has been good to me, good to my family and good to the community. Before the pandemic, we did a lot of community work and we hope to get back there. We’ve also done a lot with diversity and inclusion, ensuring we are representing and including different groups of people to make the right decisions for our community.”

Looking ahead, Raymond hopes to continue coaching the next generation of Holston staff to continue making ammunition for U.S. war fighters, an essential responsibility that helps to ensure the safety of our country.

Manufacturing Manager

Leading by Example

Ben began his Holston career as the site’s first Energy Manager, a new position that opened due to governmental guidance for Federal facilities to take additional measures to use and source energy more efficiently. Ben was instrumental in Holston’s ISO 50001 Energy Management system creation and certification, demonstrating the site’s commitment to continual improvement. He also initiated and supported other key energy programs, such as the installation of the Co-Gen, which allows Holston to produce its own electricity. Ben then transitioned into a role as a process engineer in the Acids area, quickly moving into the role as Acids Area Manager, where he oversaw several critical site projects. In 2021, he changed roles to one of Holston’s energetics manufacturing managers.

Throughout every step on his journey, three key threads are clearly woven into Ben’s roles: the desire to solve problems, lead with integrity, and support our mission.

“At Holston, I get the chance to use my skills to help other people. In my view, America’s global role is to show how a country can do things the right way, to lead by example, and that takes a commitment from the populace and our military to stand up to those forces trying to do harm. We help do that here.”

Ben wants to make a difference to his team, the site, the mission, and the people and ideals that our men and women in uniform fight for. He consistently asks, How can we be better? Because he understands Holston’s service to our Customer and our ultimate goal: to be part of the solution for a better world.

Compliance Manager

Rallying Together for the Mission

When Caroline first visited the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP), she was struck with a sense of awe. She knew she wanted to be a part of the legacy. Today, in her role as Compliance Manager, Caroline is a valued member of the OSI finance team. She is proud of the work she and her team do to ensure that processes and procedures at OSI are compliant with government regulations. Her role allows her to experience Holston in a way not many can.

“I get to go down to the plant and see what it looks like. I get to witness the processes, the challenges, the successes. I think that helps me connect the dots to my role. I love that part of my job. I get to go meet different people and learn from their experience and wisdom.”

When Caroline first moved to Tennessee with her husband and three kids, she was seeking a role that would align with her extensive professional and educational background. Reflecting on her time at Holston, Caroline shares that the culture at the plant is the best part of her job. At HSAAP, she knows that everybody has a voice and that everyone, regardless of position or department, is rallying together and making an impact.

Training Specialist

Win the day.

Curtis aims to arm the workforce at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP) with the skills, support, and knowledge they need to make product in support of the Warfighter. Curtis spent 20 years in active duty in the U.S. Navy, so he knows firsthand what it’s like to use our products in the field. And that understanding drives his purpose at the site: achieving everyday victories that further the mission.

In the Navy, Curtis served as a helicopter crew chief and a search and rescue swimmer—an extremely specialized role. After retiring from the military, Curtis worked in Veterans Affairs at East Tennessee State University, where he heard about HSAAP through a friend and colleague. Curtis applied for a position designing and facilitating learning and development opportunities for the next generation of HSAAP employees.

“I love being able to look back and see the results of a training we worked hard to facilitate. We can see where we won and where we may need to improve. The key is to improve our training continuously to meet the needs of the people they’re designed for.”

Protecting the Warfighter is the true reason for the desire to deliver the best training possible to the employees of HSAAP. For Curtis, to win every day means to be better every day; to learn from the past to inform the future of making products that defend democracy.

Chemical Engineer

A Legacy of Service

With a career spanning 56 years, Hobart has worked in every area of the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP) except for the steam plant. He’s seen the site through times of conflict and times of peace, working alongside a multi-generational team with some of the most unique skills in the world.

In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War, Hobart began his tenure at HSAAP working in the Research and Development Lab. The site was already in full-swing production, and as a veteran of the United States Army Reserves, Hobart felt that working at Holston was, and still is, a continuation of his military service.

Because of his chemical engineering background and encyclopedic knowledge of how the site works, Hobart’s skills have been applied to adapting processes across multiple product lines, assisting wastewater treatment expansion, helping IMX move into full-scale production, and to safety checks on evolving processes. And with every suggestion and improvement made, Hobart helps ensure the site is mission-ready for the next challenge and the next wave of talent joining our team to carry on our mission.

“My main project now is taking what I’ve learned and putting together classes to help the next operators and chemical engineers in any way I can. That’s what I hope my legacy can be.”

Knowledge. Service. Mission. These are the things that have defined Hobart’s career. He knows it's not just what we do, here, it’s also how we do it—safely, efficiently, and with respect for our people, for the products we make, and for the end-users who rely on them to defend our freedom.

Holston Production Manager

Leveraging history to advance the future.

Kelly S. is continuously finding ways to improve production at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP). Combining legacy and future-focused thought processes, Kelly and her team aim to make sure the product is on time and high quality.

Kelly learned about HSAAP through a peer and applied for an engineering role. When she arrived for her interview, she immediately felt there was something special about the plant—the rich history, the mission-driven passion—and she knew this was where she wanted to build her career.

Kelly began working as a process engineer in explosives manufacturing. In February 2020, she stepped into the role of production manager, where she currently oversees three departments. Her main goal? To ensure that the product is made on schedule and that her team is focused on the end user.

“The products we make at Holston are part of the strategy for defending our country. We’re the last hands that touch the product before it goes to the Warfighter. We need to keep them safe so they can keep us safe.”

In addition to the mission of HSAAP, Kelly feels the plant is like a “giant family.” She hopes to continue to reinforce the supportive and collaborative culture at HSAAP. She wants to be with boots on the ground, working alongside them as they move product through the lines, out the door, and on the way to help defend democracy around the globe.

Facilities Manager

Build. Maintain. Serve.

Marty is a Facilities Manager at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP), and his journey at Holston is all about continuing his family’s legacy. His grandfather obtained an engineering degree from Emory & Henry College and was the first in his family to do so. When World War II broke out, and the Allies needed an answer to defeat German U-Boats, Marty’s grandfather was part of the team from the Tennessee Eastman Corporation, who designed and operated the Great Holston Ordnance Works, (now HSAAP). Marty’s grandfather served in several engineering and management roles before becoming the assistant to the site’s General Manager, where he stayed until his retirement in 1971 with the Holston Defense Corporation (HDC), a former operating contractor. Following his retirement, he worked at HSAAP as a sub-contractor for HDC for an additional seven years, serving as an advisor.

The tradition didn’t stop there: Marty’s dad went to work at HSAAP for HDC in 1965. He held several positions throughout his career before retiring as the Senior Maintenance Planning Analyst for the site in 1999. Today, Marty carries on the tradition. He’s been with BAE Systems at HSAAP since 2018, serving its mission and the Warfighter.

For Marty, that service means managing a team responsible for supporting the plant’s Water Services operations while also supporting the labs and facilities located throughout the shops and administrative areas. These areas directly contribute to the overall success of the site, helping it push product safely out the door to meet the demands of our customer; to innovate and prepare for the future; and to continue to defend democracy here and around the world, just as this site was first called to do in 1942.

Our mission continues.

Safety Industrial Hygenist

Safety Inside the Gates

Growing up near the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP), Nathan would occasionally drive past the site with his father, not knowing specifically what was happening behind closed doors, but knowing it was important. Fast forward to 2012, and Nathan began his career in the safety department of HSAAP, after spending five years at the plant under a subcontractor. For Nathan, OSI’s broader mission of protecting the Warfighter starts inside the gates of HSAAP; he takes his job seriously, and he does it with pride and a deep understanding of safety. He believes that small steps over time affect big change.

“There is not much room for error in our work, and I’m proud to be a part of a workforce that values the job but also values each other. We make an impact – large or small – every day, and the Warfighter’s safety begins with our safety.”

Today, the awareness of products used in global conflict is heightened. For Nathan, witnessing products made at HSAAP in use and understanding what they are capable of, puts into perspective the importance of safety. The materials used to make the product require the utmost attention to detail, care, and respect – just like the warfighter requires while making decisions during conflict.

“My mission at HSAAP is to ensure we safely deliver the best possible product to our Armed Forces so they can do their job to the best of their ability.”

The plant that fascinated Nathan as a child still ignites a sense of amazement and wonder in him, and today, Nathan keeps his fellow employees safe on the inside so the mission can continue.

Finance Manager

Following in her footsteps.

The pride of working at Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP) was ingrained in Randal before he even walked through the doors. As part of the generational workforce that defines HSAAP, Randal was familiar with the plant’s rich history and critical mission.

When the plant began operating in the early 1940s, Randal’s grandmother had recently become a widow, and she was looking for work to support her family. At the same time, his mother decided she did not want to carry on the family farming tradition. Both women took jobs at the Holston site and found themselves working in the HSAAP cafeteria together. Randal grew up hearing stories of how his grandmother and mother were proud to be a part of something so important to the country.

Randal joined HSAAP in 2013. And for the past 11 years, he has helped support the finance team.

“My purpose here is supporting the Warfighter. I feel like my part is managing a piece of the finances needed to keep the mission going.”

Coming from a family that not only has ties to HSAAP, but that also has members who served in the military, Randal feels that working at the plant is his contribution to defending democracy. He feels at home at Holston, surrounded by a culture of employees who share a similar sense of pride. Randal carries on the family legacy with the same loyalty and enthusiasm for serving as the generations that came before him.

Chemical Process Engineer

Answering the Call

For Rodger, working at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP) is a way to serve his country and the Warfighter—and that includes someone very close to him: his brother, who serves in the U.S. Army. Helping to protect his brother is one of Rodger’s greatest motivators.

“Serving is a tall order. I felt called to serve, and I knew I needed to answer the call in some way. By working at Holston, I get to serve my country, and I’m honored to do my part.”

After receiving his chemical engineering degree from Tennessee Technological University, Rodger sought a career that would bring him home to East Tennessee. His focus on engineering design led him to apply for an open process engineering position at HSAAP. He got the job, and his role at HSAAP fulfills his passions for service and solving for engineering solutions.

Rodger is proud to work alongside people who are equally caring and passionate about safety, security, and effectiveness at HSAAP. He and his team are aware of the weight that their positions carry, and they work together to improve the plant and support those on the front lines.

Research and Development Manager

Innovate. Succeed. Repeat.

In the 1990s, Virgil Fung sought chemical engineering opportunities and noticed a “wanted” ad in his college’s career office. He applied for a job with BAE Systems (then known as British Aerospace Royal Ordnance) in Glascoed, Wales. While his role and location have changed, he has stayed with the company for nearly three decades. Virgil answered a wanted ad but found a life calling.

Virgil joined Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP) as an R&D formulation chemist. For Virgil, the appeal of coming to HSAAP was rooted in research: more research opportunities and more innovation. The choice seemed an obvious one. However, little did he know, his first project at HSAAP would be one for the history books: IMX-101.

As a researcher, the process development and production transition of IMX-101 was a dream come true. Working closely with other R&D scientists, Virgil helped advance the candidate for TNT replacement in the lab. From its inception in 2006, HSAAP worked hand in hand with the U.S. Army to formulate, test, and scale up the production of IMX-101 by 2010. This expedient timeline is almost unheard of in the R&D world, and the innovation ultimately earned IMX-101 a spot in Time magazine’s, “The 50 Best Inventions of 2010.”

While Virgil’s role has shifted to the management of R&D programs, his favorite things about research and development have never changed. What begins with challenges results in innovation. And, at HSAAP, what begins as a simple idea, becomes a product used to defend democracy and protect the lives of the warfighters.

At HSAAP, the R&D team specializes in taking a crazy idea, turning it into a reality, then scaling it up to meet demand. And that’s Virgil’s expertise: innovation with a production mindset and keeping projects on track and on budget to meet customer needs so the Warfighter can have the right product to protect us. Virgil’s mission is continuous: trying new ideas and bringing them to life… and then doing it all over again.

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