When Patrick Craig joined LLNL in April 2021, he welcomed the opportunity to engage with employee resource groups (ERGs) he identifies with and reconnect with his own identities.

Craig is a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and current member of the U.S. Navy Reserves. One of the things he appreciates about being at LLNL is the opportunity to serve the nation as a Lab employee and a member of the Armed Forces. Prior to joining the Laboratory, he worked in information technology (IT) roles with the U.S. Navy. At LLNL, he is the systems administrator for the WISENET group in the Strategic Deterrence Directorate and IT Department. He acclimated well to his team due to shared experiences.

“A lot of the people I work with in Strategic Deterrence are veterans,” he said. “There is a lot of camaraderie and bonds from shared experiences. It makes me feel at home.”

As the systems administrator, Craig supports workstations on several Lab networks. He and his team ensure that the network connection is fully functional for employees to use daily, including software and maintenance compliance. Despite being the newest member of his IT team, he feels included in all discussions and decisions the group makes. He also embraces the new challenges his team faces, because they push him to think outside of the box and see things from others’ perspectives.

Craig feels a strong sense of work-life balance at the Lab. Since he is in the Navy Reserves, the Lab offers military paid time off whenever he is required to go on-base. The Lab’s Veterans in Energy & Technology ERG has made him aware of veteran-inclusion efforts year-round. He also appreciates the Lab’s push for a healthy lifestyle, one that he practices through Olympic weightlifting.

“When I was in the military, I was introduced to weightlifting,” he said. “I started Olympic weightlifting because it taught me about strategy and to pursue new ways when tackling challenges. For example, there are so many ways to learn how to do a power clean. And I bring that same thought process to my role at work.”

Craig identifies as biracial: he is Filipino American on his mother’s side, and Scottish and Portuguese on his father’s side. He attributes most of his success to his mother’s perseverance and kindness. Craig and his two sisters grew up in a one-parent household; their mother instilled a hard work ethic in them. Because of this, he is on a mission to learn more about his Filipino heritage.

“My mother traveled halfway across the globe to start a better life for herself,” he said. “That inspires me to work hard because I know where my predecessors came from, and I know how much sacrifice it took to get here.”

To better educate himself on his own cultural identity, Craig recently joined the Lab’s Asian Pacific American Council (APAC) ERG. Through APAC, he’s hoping to be more culturally aware of his Filipino identity.

Outside of the Lab, Craig continues to compete in weightlifting. He is now entering his seventh year in Olympic competition. He’s excited to visit the Philippines this year with his girlfriend. They’re looking forward to being exposed to the country’s islands, traditions, food, and culture. He plans to leave the Philippines as a newly engaged couple.

—Abel Morelos