Before joining Texas811, I spent part of my career as an air traffic controller. It was a profession where there was no room for shortcuts or assumptions. Every instruction, every checklist, and every communication served one purpose: getting people home safely.
That experience shaped the way I think about safety today.
While aviation and damage prevention are very different industries, they share the same truth: safety isn’t achieved by reacting to incidents, it’s built through disciplined processes that are followed every single day.
In aviation, experience never replaces procedure. Even the most seasoned pilots rely on checklists before every flight. They understand that consistency prevents mistakes. The same is true in our industry. Connecting with 811 before digging, allowing time for locates, respecting tolerance zones, and communicating clearly aren’t just requirements; they’re habits that protect lives.
Another lesson aviation taught me is that every close call is an opportunity to learn. The goal isn’t assigning blame; it’s understanding what happened so the next incident never occurs. That’s the mindset we should continue to strengthen across the damage prevention community. When we share lessons learned, embrace new technology, and invest in training, we all become safer.
At Texas811, our mission goes beyond processing tickets. We’re helping build a culture where doing the right thing becomes second nature. That only happens when utility operators, excavators, contract locators, and stakeholders work together with a shared commitment to prevention.
Whether directing aircraft or protecting underground infrastructure, the objective has always been the same for me: create systems that keep people safe. Safety isn’t an accomplishment we reach; it’s a commitment we renew every day.
Thank you for being part of that commitment and for helping make Texas a safer place to live and work.