At Amentum, we celebrate our people, our cultures, and we recognize the value of diversity and inclusion. For February, we’ll reflect on what Black History Month means to all of us while shining a light on one employee at a time. Amentum’s next spotlight is a Q&A with Raco M. Lownes, CSP, Senior Safety Specialist, ES&T.
How did you come to join Amentum?
After being a safety consultant for three years, I decided it was time to get back to why I originally chose safety as a profession – to help keep employees safe.
What is your professional and personal background?
I have worked in the safety field for over 25 years, and have served in numerous capacities, from manufacturing safety to corporate safety. I graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor degree in Occupational Safety and Health. Growing up in a very small town, with very few opportunities, I knew that getting a higher education was imperative to making my dreams a reality.
Describe the work you do and how you think it makes a positive impact.
I work with site personnel to facilitate a safety culture where safety is priority one and we are all responsible for creating and maintaining a safe working environment. Our efforts make it possible for employees to go home injury-free to their families.
What are some of your accomplishments and/or what has been your proudest career moment?
One of my proudest accomplishments was rebuilding a company’s safety culture and being recognized by the state with their most prestigious award for accident prevention. My next proudest moment was obtaining my CSP (Certified Safety Professional), which is the Gold Standard in Safety.
What do you enjoy about working for Amentum?
I have seen firsthand that the company truly cares about employee safety. That trait is rare. Many companies say that safety is a top priority, but very few actually prove it and live by those words. As a safety professional, my requirement for working for a company is that they must be committed to employee safety.
What are you passionate about?
For the last 16 years, my passion has been my family. I want to make sure that we have provided our son with a well-rounded positive environment so that when he goes into the world, he will know how to navigate any obstacles he may face and be able to make a positive contribution to society. On a lighter note, my next passion is eating. I plan everything around three traditional meals. To this date, I can’t remember ever missing a meal!
What’s your career advice?
Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is the best learning opportunity.
What does safety mean to you or do you have a favorite safety tip?
Rushing leads to accidents. Don’t be in such a hurry that you bypass or ignore safety rules and put yourself or someone in danger. There is nothing more important than your well-being.
What’s the best invention in the world and why?
I think the airplane is one of the best inventions because it made the possibility of seeing other parts of the world more realistic and attainable for everyone.
Anything else you would like to share from a personal or professional perspective?
Life is about choices. I use this philosophy in my personal and professional life.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
For me, it’s a time to slow down and reflect on two things – the sacrifices and the contributions. These two things show how resilient we are as people. The sacrifices: the sacrifices that so many made have afforded us the luxuries that we experience today, such as being able to read, going to a school of your choosing, being able to vote, being able to make your dream a reality! The contributions: these are endless – from the automatic elevator door to the gas mask to the three-light traffic signal. There were so many exceptional contributions and most of these were made during adversarial times. I am thankful for those who came before me, and it is my responsibility to see that I continue the journey of making the world a better place for all.
