Veteran relates military experience and current role in power generation

Marine veteran and 17-year We Energies employee, Joe Griffin currently works as manager – power generation support in Oak Creek. What might surprise you: He sees many similarities between his current role and work during his deployment aboard Naval shipping.

Joe Griffin (last on the right, kneeling) in Liberia

“Some of the same equipment and procedures we had in the military are very similar to power generation equipment and procedures,” said Griffin.

A team focus about health and safety is as important to We Energies as it is to the Navy/Marine Corps team.

“In the military, you are one big family. We Energies is one big family, too. You have to rely on the person next to you to stay safe. It’s no different than when I was deployed Naval shipping,” added Griffin.

Griffin was a sergeant in the Marines and spent most of his career in the military police. He also was deployed in the Mediterranean to conduct naval exercises with U.S. allies. In addition, he was deployed to Monrovia, Liberia, where he was part of a noncombatant evacuation of U.S. civilians during the First Liberian Civil War in 1990.

Nov. 11 is Armistice Day, more commonly known as Veterans Day. The day celebrates and honors America’s veterans for their willingness to serve. We Energies has a history of commitment to veterans with generous contributions to Stars and Stripes Honor Flight and Fisher House Wisconsin.

A few years ago, Griffin represented We Energies at a check presentation at Fisher House Wisconsin, where military and veterans’ families will soon be able to stay while loved ones receive treatment at the Clement J. Zablocki V.A. Medical Center in Milwaukee. Fisher House Wisconsin broke ground in June 2014 and is expected to be completed soon.

Fisher House Wisconsin has been a featured charity in We Energies’ Safety Charity Challenge. In 2014, Fisher House won three out of four Safety Charity Challenge votes, securing a total of $30,000 from the We Energies Foundation. Safety Charity Challenge donations are made when employees help the company meet quarterly safety goals.

“It was a natural fit for us, because of the number of veterans who work for We Energies. We know what veterans have gone through. We know what families have gone through, and it was an excellent choice for us,” said Griffin.

We salute Griffin and the many other veterans in the We Energies family this Veterans Day.