Editor’s note: CAP employees have unique backgrounds and experiences, shaping us as an organization and reflecting the diverse communities we serve. Justin Rinehart joined CAP in 2009 as an electrician and now works as an operational technology security analyst.
Justin Rinehart is a hands-on kind of guy. His decision to become an electrician was, in part, because he wanted to be a lineman and climb poles for a living.
“What I didn’t realize when I joined the electrical apprenticeship is that there are two different programs – one for inside electrical and one for outside – and I ended up working inside,” said Rinehart. “That turned out to be a great path for me because I learned so much more about the industry.”
When he joined CAP in 2009 as a plant electrician at Mark Wilmer Pumping Plant, he had been working as a traveling electrician for several years. It was a grind and he was excited to set aside his suitcase and put down some roots – which he did. He met Christie, the woman who would become his wife, and found a good church.
After five years, Rinehart decided he wanted to experience other areas of the electrical industry and left CAP for a power generation job in Ft. Mohave. He then moved onto the water side of the plant, learning about chemistry and how gas-powered plants work – he enjoyed the opportunities to learn.
However, his former CAP colleagues reached out in 2017 looking for an outstanding electrician for the Instrumentation & Control (I&C) team. Rinehart knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“It was great to work on that crew,” said Rinehart. “My favorite part is being hands-on … building and creating things with your hands is pretty thrilling.”
The position was different than his role as a plant electrician and he worked on all areas of the system. As an I&C electrician, Rinehart collaborated closely with Engineering. He worked on programmable logic controllers (PLCs) – industrial computers used to control and monitor CAP’s infrastructure. It reminded him of a moment earlier in his career when he was working on Mt. Graham.
“I saw a man sitting in front of the PLC cabinet and programming them to control the telescope,” says Rinehart. “I remember thinking, ‘I want to do that someday—make things work like that.’”
And he was, but the more he worked with PLCs, the more he wanted to know … not just about orchestrating the infrastructure, but also about how to ensure the technology was safe. He decided the next best step was to return to school.
“I was an electrician and I didn’t know a lot about the computer and administration side of networking,” said Rinehart. “It was important to me to understand how to secure our critical infrastructure.”
For the next four years, he pursued his degree – all while working full-time. He says the support of his family, colleagues and CAP’s educational benefit were critically important to his earning his bachelor’s degree in information technology with an emphasis in cybersecurity. He graduated summa cum laude and was at the top of his class. He followed that up by earning his Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP) certification.
“My dad was a lithographer and everyone knew he was the best in the business. I wanted to be just like that in my field,” said Rinehart.
Rinehart not only knew CAP’s infrastructure and how to maintain it, but he also knew how to protect it. It was the perfect combination for his next career move: operational technology security analyst. His position helps bridge the gap between CAP’s operational systems and information technology.
“We all do our part to move water,” said Rinehart. “For me, that now includes protecting our system to ensure we can move gates and pumps.”
His career has traveled from a crafts and trade role to an administrative one. From boots-on-the-ground to hands on a keyboard. But Rinehart still has the heart of a craftsman.
“In this role, just like any role, I want to make sure I do quality work – work that I am proud of and provides a foundation for those who come after me,” said Rinehart.
Spoken like a true craftsman.
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