This month, we’re celebrating the impact veterans are making at Emergent and in our communities. We caught up with Gary Stein, a member of Emergent’s Manufacturing Operations team, and U.S. Navy veteran.
Gary talks about his role at Emergent, and how his experience in the military shaped who he is as a professional.
Name: Gary Stein
Role: Equipment Specialist, Lyophilization
Location: Baltimore, MD – Camden site
Years at Emergent: 5 years
Hometown: Rhinelander, WI
What exactly does your role entail?
I am an equipment specialist working in the Engineering Facilities & Validation group in our Camden office. My role consists of performing maintenance, repair, calibration, and projects related to lyophilization (freeze-drying process), as well as supporting plant calibration activities.
What brought to Emergent?
After moving to the east coast, I got in touch with the Camden site. My work experience has been great since joining the team five years ago. I have been fortunate enough to receive great on-the-job training, which, in addition to my prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry and other technical roles, has helped me become a better asset to the team.
What’s been your favorite part of working at Emergent so far?
My favorite part of working at Emergent is that I have been supported in learning new skills and developing the ones I have. I was afforded the opportunity by Emergent to attend refrigeration technician school that allowed me to grow into a new role as lyophilization specialist. The skills I learned there directly transferred to the work I am doing in my new role. I was also allowed to attend training with one of our lyophilizer manufacturers, which gave me a deeper understanding of the lyophilization equipment and the capabilities of the vendor.
Tell us about your military experience.
I was a nuclear electronics technician serving in the United States Navy. I spent two years in school studying nuclear engineering and four years in Hawaii aboard the USS Chicago. Being in the military taught me that educating yourself as best as you can helps you handle unexpected scenarios.
How was your transition from the military to a career in the private sector?
I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to Robert Morris University in Chicago. I had a friend working at a Chicago-area pharmaceutical company where I was able to get a job after graduation. The job was a good fit for me as the pharmaceutical field requires a lot of technical knowledge and the ability to document correctly – skills I honed through my military experience.
What are some of the ways your military experience has shaped who you are as a professional?
My military experience has taught me the importance of being prepared. I always prioritize this by ensuring I have the necessary training, approvals, and materials/parts to manage issues as they arise in the lyophilization and metrology department.
Which Emergent core value do you most embody and why – Lead with integrity, Stand shoulder to shoulder, Own it always, Breakthrough thinking, Compete where it counts?
I think “Own it always” because I take pride in being responsible for the maintenance of the lyophilizers and their performance and uptime.