Lorah Trumbaturi, a Transmission Grid Controller, served aboard a nuclear-powered Navy submarine for nearly 10 years. For her, Veteran’s Day is a time to consider former soldiers who made bigger sacrifices.

“It’s less of a celebration of where I am or where people like me are,” Trumbaturi said. “And more of a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that people have made throughout our entire history.”

Her coworker and another 10-year Navy veteran, Kacie Fischer, thinks about those who are still serving their country.

“I think about the people who are overseas, who have lost their lives,” said Fischer, Transmission Grid Controller, Senior. “I’m also very proud to be a part of a company that recognizes, celebrates and helps veterans.”

Jesse Perez, a Transmission Manager in Waco, said Veterans Day is important, but not just because he’s a veteran. He served six years in the Air Force.

“I’m proud of being a veteran,” Perez said. “The day has more meaning to me for the military members who actually fought in wars and for our fallen heroes. They allow us to have the freedom that we have now.”

Perez, a Dallas-area native, joined the Air Force in 2000. At the time, he was in college but struggling with school and finances. The Air Force trained him to be a biomedical equipment specialist, a job that led to his first position at Oncor 16 years ago.

“The Air Force prepared me for my first job here, which was a substation and Transmission electrician,” Perez said. “Having the skill set I learned in the military made the transition that much easier.”

Like Perez, Trumbaturi and Fischer learned about electricity in the Navy. Trumbaturi served aboard the USS Bremerton submarine. Fischer was an electronics technician on the USS Carl Vinson, a massive aircraft carrier.

At Oncor’s Transmission Grid Management offices, where Trumbaturi and Fischer work 12-hour shifts several days in a row, many employees are former military.

“I think we found a niche where a lot of nuclear-qualified personnel fit this type of rigorous job experience,” Trumbaturi said. “We had to run distribution networks on carriers and submarines and other ships, so it’s a good fit.”

Trumbaturi appreciates what she learned aboard the submarine. Yet, she’d like to forget the ship’s cramped quarters, the food and the lack of connection to family and friends for months.

The one good thing? “There’s no spiders,” she said. “That’s my favorite part of being on a submarine. You don’t have to deal with spiders at all.”