At Essential, we feel very grateful that we employ so many veterans who bring their dedicated, courage and spirit to our company. This Veterans Day, we want to take time to recognize and give a special thank-you to all of the veterans who work within our Essential Utilities family.
We are thankful that they are part of our team and will always strive to create opportunities for our veterans and continue to embrace and honor the incredible work they've done for our nation. We hope you enjoy meeting some of our employees who have bravely served our country and shared their stories with us. Thank you to all veterans in our Aqua, Peoples and Essential families, for your hard work and bravery.
BRADLEY D. ALLEN
Military branch: United States Air Force
Rank: First Class
Years Served: 1972-1976
Most interesting deployment/assignment: Edwards Air Force, California
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: I was proud to have served my country during a time when the Vietnam War was coming to a close resulting in the loss of American lives.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: It gave me a better outlook for respect of my country and freedom. It was where I began my career in water and wastewater treatment.
JOHN ANDREWS
Military branch: United States Army
Rank: Captain
Years Served: Five years
Most interesting deployment/assignment: Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti to restore the county’s democratic government. Spent 6 months in country where my responsibilities ranged from managing the airport in Cap-Haitien (northern Haiti) to coordinating with Royal Caribbean to borrow its private beach at Labadee to provide rest and relaxation for 800 soldiers a day.
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: Being a veteran has taught me the incredible sacrifice required to ensure the health and prosperity of our democracy. Despite the challenges we face in our society, we are fortunate to have a volunteer professional military willing to stand up to any foreign threat to our freedoms and way of life.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: The Army taught me that every individual has strengths and weaknesses that affect the overall mission. As a leader, it is your responsibility to determine how to leverage these individual strengths and minimize these weaknesses to be successful as a team.
JOHN AULBACH
Military branch: United States Army - Infantry
Rank: Colonel
Years Served: 1981-2011
Most interesting deployment/assignment: My most interesting and demanding assignment and deployment was in 2005 to Iraq commanding a brigade military transition team embedded with an Iraqi light infantry brigade. While interesting, it was also challenging to execute a complex mission across language and cultural barriers.
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: As a veteran I am proud to have served and am grateful for the opportunities provided to me to develop within my chosen careers. Additionally, I have deep respect for veterans’ families who bear extreme hardships and am grateful for my wife and children who have been supportive of my profession.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: The ability to work in and lead large organizations built confidence in my own professional skill sets, as well as the ability to draw the maximum effort from each member of a team to accomplish a mission or assignment. My military experiences directly influenced my civilian career and the ability to be successful.
RICKIE DANIELS
Rank: Lance Corporal
Years Served: Four Years Active Duty
Most interesting deployment/assignment: My most interesting deployment was with a Joint NATO exercise that took place in Norway in the winter. We had to take winter training for months beforehand. the Norwegian people I had the pleasure of meeting were fantastic hosts and very polite to the American troops.
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: I'm proud to have had the opportunity to serve in the Marine corps and help safeguard the freedoms we have in the USA.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: Being in the military taught me respect and responsibility, which I put to use in my personal and professional life to this day becuase they serve me well.
KIRKLYN FIELDS
Military Branch: United States Marine Corps
Rank: Sergeant
Years Served: 13 years with an honorable discharge
Most interesting deployment/assignment: I am a veteran of the Gulf War (Desert Shield and Desert Storm)
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: I'm proud to have had the opportunity to serve in the Marine corps and help safeguard the freedoms we have in the USA.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: Being in the military taught me respect and responsibility, which I put to use in my personal and professional life to this day because they serve me well.
COREY JACKSON
Military branch: United States Marine Corps
Rank: SGT E-5
Years Served: Five years active duty / 1 year reserve
Most interesting deployment/assignment: Operation Enduring Iraqis Freedom (Iraq)
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: Being a U.S. military veteran means you were willing to fight and die in service to this country. It meant being separated from friends, family and loved ones. It meant giving up control of your life to others and having to trust your well-being to them. It meant risking life and limb and potential (permanent) injury, either to complete a mission, help your buddies fighting alongside you or just in doing what you were supposed to do. It meant you took an oath to ‘Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States’… and lived up to your part of the bargain.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: Having served as a Marine has been the most impactful life experience directly related to my professional career. From my service, I was afforded the opportunity to matriculate through college via the Montgomery G. I. Bill along with developing needed leadership skills that transcended from the military to the private sector. I without any hesitation feel that serving in the USMC was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.
ANTHONY MANCARI
Military branch: United States Army
Rank: Colonel
Years Served: 29 Years: I am currently in the active reserve as the Brigade Commander, 302d Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
Most interesting deployment/assignment: All my assignments have been interesting! Of course, overseas missions helped broaden my understanding of the military as instrument of national power. I served two tours in Baghdad, Iraq, one in 2003 and one in 2009. The latter one was as an advisor to the Ministry of Interior, assisting them in planning infrastructure projects to enable civil security, Rule of Law and the country’s capacity to effectively govern. This was such a complex mission that required less military mite and more diplomacy and was a true bookend from when I was in Baghdad during the beginning of the war in 2003.
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: It’s been the greatest honor and privilege of my life to serve this great country and our people. Veterans make a very tangible and solemn commitment to support and defend the constitution of the United States regardless of the price to the individual service member. My wife is a veteran and I currently have three daughters who are attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. They have seen and lived through the sacrifices firsthand, and for them to have a passion to serve, gives me great hope.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: Veterans are a part of a special fraternity: galvanized by common experiences, joys and heartaches. Walls are immediately removed when you find another veteran in your workplace or community. The “can-do” attitude, grit, discipline. humor and eternal optimism learned by serving within the military continues to be a great multiplier in all facets of life.
MONICA MAZZCCIA
Military branch: Air Force
Rank: Military Police Officer
Years Served: Joined in 1999 and served for 6 years.
Most interesting deployment/assignment: While stationed at a military base in Langley, VA, me and other offices heard across the radio to be on the lookout for a person of interest heading towards the base who was carrying a weapon. Shortly after the call, said person of interested charged through the base gate and fought my fellow military police offers and I. Ultimately, the person of interest was arrested.
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: Being a Veteran means to me that I answered the call to stand among the bravest men and women in our Nation to protect our Nation.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: Super hard to reacclimate into civilian life. When you are leaving the military, you are 10 years behind where you would have been. Always remember to be flexible. You might feel a job is beneath you – but just be flexible - further your formal education. Use the GI bill. Get your references before you get out of the military. Use any connection you can – network!! And don’t be embarrassed to use them! Stay motivated. Don’t give up. Reimagine what may work for you. You will always land on your feet. For her specifically - maintaining professionalism. Keep a certain level of respect for others. How you carry yourself is important. She is used to being with a group of winners. Sometimes you don’t always feel A1 every day but stay organized and motivated. Doing the same tasks all day can be mundane but stay focused.
CHARLES MELOCHE
Military branch: United States Army Military Police
Rank: E-4 (Specialist 4)
Years Served: Three years active duty and three years reserve duty
Most interesting deployment/assignment: I was stationed at Ford Gordon, Georgia for all three of my active duty years. My most interesting duty was military prisoner escort to places such as Fort Leavenworth KS (the big house) and Fort Riley KS (Retraining Prison).
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: I come from a military family and I am very proud of my family’s military history and am proud to have done my part in serving this great nation. Veterans Day is special to me, but I also try to honor veterans all year round.
Brent Reeh
Military branch: United States Army Military Police
Rank: E-4 (Specialist 4)
Years Served: Three years active duty and three years reserve duty
Most interesting deployment/assignment: I was stationed at Ford Gordon, Georgia for all three of my active duty years. My most interesting duty was military prisoner escort to places such as Fort Leavenworth KS (the big house) and Fort Riley KS (Retraining Prison).
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: I come from a military family and I am very proud of my family’s military history and am proud to have done my part in serving this great nation. Veterans Day is special to me, but I also try to honor veterans all year round.
ROGER TUPPS
Military branch: United States Air Force
Rank: Master Sergeant
Years Served: 20
Most interesting deployment/assignment: While stationed at a military base in Langley, VA, me and other offices heard across the radio to be on the lookout for a person of interest heading towards the base who was carrying a weapon. Shortly after the call, said person of interested charged through the base gate and fought my fellow military police offers and I. Ultimately, the person of interest was arrested.
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: I’m proud to have served my country.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: I believe the military really helps with being able to deal with different situations that arise. It also teaches healthy work ethic.
LAWRENCE WEAVER
Military branch: United States Marine Corps
Rank: Sergeant
Years Served: Six years
What does it mean to you to be a veteran?: The question of what being a veteran means to me brought a flurry of emotions. Pride, to be able to stand up and defend this great country, which I grew up loving as part of a family full of veterans. Sadness, as it makes me reflect upon the comrades who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending this great country. Uncertainty, in thinking did I do enough when I was there? I feel humbled to have had the opportunity to serve next to so many Marines who volunteered on their own accord to protect this great nation. Being a veteran, I’m honored to have had the opportunity to help protect those freedoms like so many others did before me.
How has being a veteran affected you professionally?: Being in the Marines affected me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. I learned that you have the power to overcome adversity no matter how big or how small the obstacle. Everyone plays a role in success no matter the scope of their job. Perseverance is possible in any situation. The unofficial motto of the Marine Corps, Improvise, Adapt, Overcome, has served its “family” well and has given its “brothers and sisters” the tools to succeed. Stay calm under pressure and you will be able to handle whatever comes your way, and be clear of mind to understand what is going on and how to correct it. Learn from one another as everyone is an expert in something. Respect is earned, not demanded.
