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2022世界杯32强赛程表时间 > meet the pros: chad rogers
meet the pros: chad rogers
04/17/2025
 badge blur.jpg?width=1280 "meet chad rogers")
chad rogers is the lead operations instructor at grand gulf nuclear station in port gibson, miss. he has worked at the plant for 34 years, starting in 1991 when he was just 19 years old as an operator trainee.
“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.
