Pantex now area’s largest employer

Pantex is now the largest employer in the Texas Panhandle, according to an announcement released Tuesday by the nuclear weapons facility.

More than eight decades ago, during World War II, the Pantex Ordnance plant was a major contributor during the global conflict. At its height in January 1943, Pantex employed 5,254 full time employees. When WWII ended, Pantex closed its doors. Then in 1951 the Federal Government reclaimed the site, creating the cornerstone of the nuclear weapons complex.

Since 1975, Pantex has been the nation’s primary assembly, disassembly, retrofit, and modification center for nuclear weapons.
The total number of employees has changed throughout the decades. Ten years ago, it remained consistent with approximately 3,100 employees. That number has increased dramatically over the last few years as hundreds of new employees have been hired at Pantex.

“That growth is simply explained,” said Colby Yeary, Pantex Site Manager. “Our workload has increased and with that increase – the need to bring on hundreds of new Pantexans to meet production demands. It became obvious that our work force would have to grow to match the more than 70 percent increase in our work load. We’ve been hiring ever since and now at of the most recent count, Pantex has 4,626 employees.”

According to Pantex Field Office Manager, Jason Armstrong, “The economic impact of Pantex on our community – and the entire Panhandle – cannot be overstated. It’s something we’re very proud of. We rely on Pantexans daily to deliver our national security deterrent by combining their unique talents and abilities, driven by their deep sense of patriotism and dedication. What also cannot be overstated is the importance of Pantex. In light of today’s real-world geopolitical conditions, our responsibility to deliver on our mission to enable global security is absolutely vital. It’s the growing number of Pantexans who make that happen.”

According to Yeary, growth at Pantex will continue. “As we continue to move forward – we continue to grow in numbers and scope within the community. Later this year, we are going to house 300 employees in the city Amarillo to accommodate expansion and teleworking. We will continue with our modernization programs, including an increased workload and work force,” he said.