V-tech Environmental Services

Like a lot of students in our region, Chris Windham, Technical Specialist at V-tech Environmental Services in Lubbock, Texas, had a difficult time charting a career path for himself after high school. After working with his dad in Colorado, he eventually settled in his hometown of Lubbock to attend South Plains College. Quickly realizing he wasn’t suited for college life, he enlisted in the Marine Corps “on a whim” on March 17, 2003. Originally sent to San Angelo for firefighter training, within weeks Chris was assigned to train with a full-time rifle platoon for overseas combat mission training, and was deployed to Iraq to work security. After subsequent deployments to air bases in North Carolina and Altaquaddam Air Base in Iraq as a firefighter, Chris ended his military career in July of 2008 and came home to Lubbock.

Needing work, Chris took his mom’s suggestion and spoke to Polly Vann, General Manager of V-tech. Approximately a week after their conversation, Hurricane Ike hit the U.S. coast and Chris received a unique invitation to be part of her recovery crew. Having only five hours to make his decision and pack his bags, Chris says his military training paid off both then and now. His spontaneity, fire training and overseas experiences helped him understand the chain of command on site in Houston, and HAZMAT Operations and Awareness training prepared Chris to make an immediate contribution to the relief effort.

Chris has remained on staff at V-tech Environmental Services since then, and contends that he has found a career he loves. “Every single time I move to a new project it is a big moment for me. I go home every day and never complain about my job. I love it... the excitement of it! It is never the same thing every day.” He currently assists with environmental sampling, underground tank pulls and other projects, and is currently working toward becoming a Radiation Safety Officer and project manager to expand the company’s services.

You can’t be around Chris very long and fail to pick up on his sense of humor, eagerness to learn, and enthusiasm for his job. He has become a valuable part of the V-tech team, and stands as a great example of one who found the military to be a great educational option that trained him for civilian life.