Fuller calls himself “lucky” in the circumstances leading to his employment with Entergy, then known as Mississippi Power and Light. As a mechanical engineering graduate from Mississippi State University, he was first employed at a can labeling machine factory until one day he decided to walk in to Mississippi Power & Light—still wearing his construction clothes—to complete an application.����

“I told them I was a mechanical engineer, and they told me to wait a minute. And then all of a sudden, they said, ‘The director of human resources wants to see you.’ So, I went in there and he said, ‘We just had a job opening come up in the simulator a week ago, and they’re looking for a mechanical engineer.’ And I had just walked off the street! He said, ‘Can you do an interview today?’”��

“So, I made arrangements to miss work that afternoon. I went home to get a suit and went out to the site, and I interviewed with Mike Shelley and John Throckmorton. Oh, my goodness. I didn’t think I was going to get a job that quick. That was October 22, 1984.”��

Looking back over his first six years in the simulator, Fuller recalls how he built mathematical models on a mainframe computer. “We had to have three or four big, bulky mainframe computers,” he said. “The biggest drive on the mainframe was an 80-megabyte disk drive, and all the simulations ran on big, bulky 12-inch disc plates. It was so big, you had to pick it up with a big handle to tote it around.”��

“I’d go get a reel-to-reel tape, transfer the calculations over to the simulator computer, then build a model. And it didn’t take like a minute or two; it took 30 minutes to run the model. And that was for just one model!”��

“Of course, the hardware has changed significantly, and they’re making new advances every day in the hardware realm of input/outputs,” he continued.��

“Now, PCs can run the simulator—I’m sorry, PCs��do��run the simulator!” Fuller said. “In fact, I can run it all from my PC at my desk. Now, you can put a thumb drive in your pocket and put the whole model, the whole simulator, in your pocket and walk around with it.”��

The newest technological advances in the simulator are a boon to students who grew up using gaming and cellphone touchscreens. “Now, they train the students on glass-panel touchscreens that mimic a plant panel or indication,” Fuller said. “You can get the students more familiar with the panels in the field instead of having to tell them about it in the classroom. You can actually let them play with it and do human/machine interface with it.”��

For all the advances in computer hardware, however, Fuller is quick to point out that “the simulator does not produce senior reactor operators. It’s the��attitude��of the students and the instructors about how they’re going to go about getting their SRO license.”��

“It’s like me and this PhD I was bound and determined to get,” he explained. “I finally got a PhD in mechanical engineering, same as my master’s and my undergraduate degree. It took me 20 years to do it, but I got there.”��

After six years in the training simulator, Fuller transferred to design mechanical engineering and supported several departments over the course of many scheduled maintenance outages over four decades. “I’m good at analysis and mathematical modeling; that’s my forté,” he said.����

Over the years, Fuller has noted several changes in the workforce, particularly among his engineering peers. “In the early days, when I was given a technical problem, I would usually try and solve it myself using BASIC and FORTRAN. Now, the tendency is to go to a vendor to get them to give you some kind of answer.”��

Fuller has also noticed the tendency of younger workers to change jobs several times over the course of their career. “When I was hired, when you got a job, you got a retirement; you were going to be with the company forever. You might transfer around, but you weren’t going anywhere. And that’s still my attitude.”��

Fuller returned to training in 2024, at the request of leaders who valued his broad perspective and expertise. Seeing the opportunity to expand his diverse skill base even more, he seized the opportunity to return full circle to the simulator.��

“I’ve been lucky in being able to go from material science to thermal hydraulics to electrical print reading and nuclear engineering,” he said. “I’m building radiation models now.”��

Four decades have offered Fuller an expansive perspective on company changes and their short-term and long-term effects.��

“I’ve noticed that we seem to recognize individuals more these days,” he said. “And I think it does affect people’s attitude. Our site has gotten much better in being responsive to the needs of the plant. They’ve been on the ball, getting it solved and getting it done.”��

Forty years and three degrees have also afforded Fuller the right to offer tips for success.��

“Regardless of discipline, I’d tell any new person at the plant to pay attention to detail, because life is hard and if you do something dumb, life just gets harder. A person has to know their limitations and when to reach out for help.”��

“Also, new employees need to develop an attitude about how they’re going to approach their job. Me, I always believe I’m going to do the best I can and make a useful product for the plant or the operator or the engineer to use.”��

When asked about his philosophy of work, Fuller said, “Let me give you the Mr. Spock philosophy from Star Trek: The good of the many outweighs the good of the one. I believe that’s still true today.”��

And looking back over the good that he’s been able to do over the years, Fuller says he considers it “a stroke of luck” that he walked off the street into the electric building and submitted his job application.��

“I could hardly believe it when they said, ‘We have a job for you in the simulator,’ he recalled. “And goodness, they wanted me to build mathematical models. They were then, and they still are, my forté.��

“I grew up at Grand Gulf,” said Rogers. “I remember when I first applied for the job. I was so terrified. It was my first real grown-up job. I can remember shaking during my interview.”��

Rogers’��operations class was the first group hired in six years after the plant start up. He said there was a surplus of operators left over from when Mississippi Power and Light Company, now Entergy, decided to stop construction on Grand Gulf after the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident in Pennsylvania in 1979.��

“It was so eerie when construction stopped,” he said. “It was almost like a ghost town. Tools were left in place. It was just like it was waiting for the workers to return.”��

Rogers grew up in nearby Vicksburg, so Grand Gulf has always been home to him. His mother was one of the first female Instrument and Control technicians hired back in 1985 when the plant went into commercial operation. Rogers remembers finishing his degree in electronics and his mother encouraging him to apply for the operations job. It was a decision he said he has never regretted.��

“This place has been my home for so long,” said Rogers. “I worked eight–hour shifts back then for six days straight. I spent more time with my coworkers than my family, so they became my family. I’ve always had a great relationship with former and current employees.”��

Rogers has held various positions in operations, maintenance and training during his tenure at Grand Gulf. He has used all that knowledge from over the years to help build the proficiency of current operators going through license classes.��

“Over the last 40 years, we have taken all that operating experience and built it into procedures,” he said. “I tell my operators now, ‘just follow the procedure.’ I take a lot of pride in making operators better and feeling confident that when they are out in the plant, they have the skills and ability to run it efficiently.”��

Rogers said he plans to retire in 2026, but he will always be proud of the friends he has made along the way.��

“Grand Gulf has been a pillar in the local community,” Coleman said. “It’s been an honor to grow up here and develop my career.”��

The chemistry department is responsible for protecting the nuclear reactor. As part of his new job, Coleman provides oversight to the group and makes sure everything is managed properly. He is also excited to develop his technicians and grow their proficiency.��

 “I was developed as a young technician. It afforded me the opportunity to become the chemistry superintendent today,” he said. “I want to be able to pass that knowledge and opportunity down and really teach my technicians we can be part of the solution we want to see.”��

 As Grand Gulf approaches its 40th anniversary, Coleman said he was excited to see that the same nuclear plant that gave him his start is still around and running strong to give those same opportunities to the next generation of nuclear workers in the local community.��

 He also mentioned that as a fun fact, he is a proud Dallas Cowboys fan.��

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station employees recently donated roughly 300 pounds of food to the Triumph Food Pantry. Each month, the food bank provides meals to more than 350 families in the communities surrounding Vicksburg, Miss.

“My wife and I try and find a worthy cause to donate to every year,” said Anthony Farrell, project manager at Grand Gulf.

Farrell helped collect food and money for the food pantry and helped unload 15,000 pounds of food to distribute to local families.

“They are always looking for volunteers,” said Farrell. “It was such a humbling experience for me to be able to help families in need. There are so many families out there that really depend on these food donations.”

This year, Grand Gulf is celebrating 40 years of making clean, carbon-free electricity for its customers and communities. Volunteering in the community is just another way Entergy employees can give back.

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Brezelle White is the reactor engineering supervisor at Grand Gulf, and has worked at the site for three years.

As part of her role, she provides oversight and support to the reactor engineers when developing plans to safely operate and maintain the reactor.

“I like being an engineer because I am always learning something new. The job is never boring,” said White. “My group is welcoming, supportive and particularly likes my positive energy. Grand Gulf specifically has a wonderful family culture. Everyone is always willing to help out.”

White is also passionate about encouraging other women to get into the STEM field.

“To all the women pursuing STEM, I would encourage you to know that you can use your degree in a multitude of ways,” she noted. “Even if your degree is in a specialized topic, you have the tools to take advantage of unique opportunities beyond your field. I would tell any little girl, teen or woman that ‘you can do anything you want to do as long as you work hard and maintain your drive’.”

Fun fact:

White loves to travel. She has been to three continents, but her favorite place is the Caribbean because the water is so blue and perfect for surfing.

Mullen was recently promoted to her new supervisor role from her previous role in training at the site.

Mullen and her team work to oversee the day-to-day operations of radiation protection as well as any emergent issues.

“As a new leader, I am excited to get to know everyone on my team personally,” said Mullen. “Understanding everyone’s strengths and weaknesses will make us a stronger team.”

The teamwork present at Grand Gulf is Mullen’s favorite aspect of working at the site.

“I love how everyone has embraced cross-functional teamwork,” Mullen said. “Everyone works so well together, and it is good to see everyone reaching beyond department lines to achieve a common goal.”

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Marshall’s team makes plans for power maneuvering and refuel. She plays a significant role in keeping the core safe and stable.

“I love the technical work I do,” said Marshall. “I feel like what I do makes a difference. Working in nuclear, I contribute to the green movement by helping to make clean, carbon-free electricity.”

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Lebrun has spent the last five years making sure Grand Gulf personnel stay safe. One of Lebrun’s responsibilities is to lead the peer-to-peer coaching program, which is an important feature of nuclear safety culture. To uphold a safe environment, nuclear workers keep an eye on each other and personally hold themselves and others accountable for working safely.

“I love leading the peer-to-peer program because it brings home the message of being each other’s keeper,” said Lebrun “We will never know all the events prevented in the field because of peer-to-peer coaching. I love that I get to help make sure everyone goes home the same way they came into work.”

Before joining the nuclear industry, Lebrun had 12 years of experience with fire rescue.

“My background made my safety position at Grand Gulf an easy fit,” he said.

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