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Nov 12, 2020
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Invenergy Veteran Spotlight 2020: Troy Cannon, Operations Manager
by Invenergy Team
As we celebrate National Veterans and Military Families Month this November, Invenergy offers our sincere appreciation to our veterans for their service to the country and for the expertise and dedication they bring to our company and the clean energy field.
Veterans are uniquely positioned to excel at Invenergy thanks to the skills acquired during their service. Approximately 10 percent of Invenergy employees are military veterans, spanning from the staff at our Chicago headquarters to the technicians and plant managers working at our energy centers across the country. We are grateful to work alongside our veterans to build a more sustainable world and proud to highlight their stories throughout November.
Today’s featured veteran is Troy Cannon, Operations Manager at the Lackawanna Energy Center (1,480 MW Thermal, PA.)
1
How long have you worked at Invenergy and what is your current role?
I have been employed with Invenergy for three and a half years as the Operations Manager at Lackawanna Energy Center (LEC). I was involved in LEC’s construction and commissioning, and then continued once commercial operation began. I oversee a team of sixteen people, and we work to run the facility in a safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner.
1
Please share some details about your military service.
I have spent my entire adult life serving in our military. I have thirty-four total years of service, with four years of active duty and thirty years in the reserve component. I was enlisted for 23 years as a Boiler Technician, and advanced to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer before being commissioned as a Limited Duty Officer (Surface Engineering/Repair designator) in 2011. I continue to serve in the US Navy as an active reservist today. I’m currently a Lieutenant (O3E) and was recently selected for promotion to Lieutenant Commander.
While on active duty, I was stationed aboard USS Garcia (FF-1040) in Philadelphia, USS Talbot (FFG-4) in Charleston, and USS Simon Lake(AS-33) in Scotland, responsible for operating and maintaining boiler and engine rooms. I have served with over fourteen commands in the Naval Reserves, most notable of which was my assignment with Commander, Carrier Strike Group FIVE forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific region of the Pacific Fleet aboard the aircraft carriers USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), USS George Washington(CVN-73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).
I am currently assigned to Commander, Naval Forces Europe/Africa as part of the 6Fleet supporting their Maritime Partnership Program in western Africa, where I serve as a Lead Assessor for the country of Benin. Additionally, I serve as Officer-in-Charge of a 55-person operational support unit in Pennsylvania.
1
Was the energy industry your first job after the military? If not, what drove you to the energy industry?
The Navy trained me to operate and maintain propulsion power plants aboard ships, and that aligned perfectly with the needs of the private energy sector and made me extremely marketable. After leaving active duty, my first job was a power plant operator at Texas Tech University where I spent ten years before advancing to Plant Manager.
1
How did you get your start at Invenergy specifically?
I was interviewed and selected for the Operations Manager position at Lackawanna Energy Center during construction of the facility. After 29 years of living in Texas and working in several power plants, I moved to Pennsylvania to start my career with Invenergy.
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How did your military experience prepare you for your job now? What skills, capabilities, and characteristics transfer over?
Nearly all my military training and experience prepared me for my position with Invenergy. The Navy taught me basic and advanced skills in power plant operations and maintenance, firefighting training, and planning and leadership skills. At the same time, what I have learned at Invenergy has also benefited me in my military profession.
1
To you, why is it important that Invenergy commit to hiring veterans?
Most veterans are laser-focused and disciplined, recognize the importance of procedures and protocols, and understand the importance of goals and missions. They understand why there needs to be a chain of command and the value of quality leadership.
1
What does Veterans Day mean to you?
To me, Veterans Day is a day to take time to remember the men and women who have proudly served this country. Our military means so much more than protection and service. They are the ambassadors for the U.S. and represent all of us as they fight for peace and justice across the world. I would like to give thanks to those brave men and women who choose to spend their lives protecting me and my family, and especially to those who’ve selflessly sacrificed their lives for us.
1
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I want to thank Invenergy for implementing a campaign to hire and retain veterans, and for supporting those of us who continue to serve in the military by providing exceptional benefits for military families. I have managed dual careers in the private and military sectors for thirty years, and while it has undoubtedly been a challenge balancing two careers and supporting my family, I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.
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