NMT-15 welcomes home one of its own

After a 13-month deployment in Iraq, James Garcia, right, of Pit Disposition Science and Technology (NMT-15), is welcomed back to work at Technical Area 55 by Steven McKee, NMT-15 group leader and other NMT-15 employees. Garcia is one of several Laboratory employees to return home after extended military leave. Also on hand to welcome Garcia at TA-55 were T. J. Trapp of NMT-DO and Richard Vann Bynum of the Nuclear Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing Directorate (ADWEM). Garcia is an Army reserve staff sergeant with the 52nd Combat Engineers out of Fort Carson, Colo. While in Iraq, Garcia was stationed primarily in the Mosul area and at the Quayarah Airbase in support of the 101st Airborne Division. Since 2002, approximately 15 University of California Laboratory employees have been granted military leave. About 10 Protection Technology Los Alamos personnel also have been on military leave annually since the start of U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

Following a short welcome home at TA-55, Garcia was escorted to Laboratory Director G. Peter Nanos' office and then was introduced by Nanos to the Senior Executive Team, who gave Garcia a warm round of applause. Garcia is married and lives in Rio Rancho with his wife and three sons. Photos by Kevin N. Roark, Public Affairs

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