First responders weren’t the only ones working around the clock to keep communities safe; behind the scenes, technology and communications played a vital role in ensuring critical information reached the people who needed it most.
IronArchers Miguel Lopez, Sh’Gay Johnson, Troy Bollinger, and Gary Madison answered the call to support these emergency response missions, bringing their technical expertise, leadership, and dedication to service directly to the field.
Reigniting Passion Through Service
As a system administrator, Miguel Lopez continued to support customers while taking on the added responsibility of managing the in-processing and out-processing of volunteers. He built and maintained shared mailboxes, calendars, and distribution lists that kept the mission organized, while also creating automated processes to track accountability and document calls from wildfire victims.
Miguel deployed twice, serving a total of two months. For him, the mission was not only professional but personal: “I grew up in Southern California, so this trip was also a personal one—it gave me the chance to help a community I was once a part of,” Miguel shared.
The experience reminded him of the real-world impact his work has and reignited his passion for the mission of USACE. Along the way, he also built lasting friendships with colleagues who shared his commitment to service.
Keeping Critical Communications Alive
As a Level 3 Technician and technical lead during the wildfire response, Sh’Gay Johnson oversaw IT operations across field offices and in the field. She and her team deployed and maintained essential technology—from computers and mobile devices to Starlink units, VOIP phones, and networking equipment.
Her deployments, spanning February to April and again in August, came with unique challenges, including high-pressure troubleshooting under tight timelines. “The need to resolve complex network or system issues quickly so command staff could continue incident planning without delay was a challenge I faced often,” Sh’Gay explained.
Despite the obstacles, she described the experience as one that deepened her appreciation for the resilience of communities and the bravery of first responders.
“Seeing how technology directly supported life-saving decisions made the work feel purposeful beyond a typical IT environment,” she said. “To know that my skills kept communication lines open and helped protect people during a crisis gave me a strong sense of pride and reinforced my commitment to service.”
Her time in the field also strengthened her leadership skills, teaching patience, adaptability, and confidence in resource-limited environments.
Commitment Beyond the Office
Our employees showed that servant leadership is more than a value we talk about—it’s a way of serving others with skill, humility, and purpose. In California, that meant using technical expertise as a lifeline in moments of crisis, ensuring communities had the support they needed to endure and recover.
We are proud of Miguel, Sh’Gay, Troy, and Gary—and of all IronArchers who step forward when their skills are needed most. Their actions embody what it means to be servant leaders: putting people first, strengthening communities, and turning commitment into impact.
