BNSF supports military employees while they serve our country

By MIKE PAGEL
Staff Writer 

Every day, BNSF team members keep freight moving safely and efficiently across our network. But for some, their commitment to service extends far beyond the railroad.  

BNSF is proud to be a leading employer of military veterans, and we also have employees serving in the National Guard and the Reserves, answering a call to duty that supports our communities, our nation and our freedoms.  

In recognition of Military Appreciation Month, here are a few of our employees currently serving in either the National Guard or Reserves: 

Matthew Crofut 

Senior Manager Bulk Operations, Network Strategy Design & Innovation Matthew Crofut has been with BNSF for 17 years and is based at our headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. He’s been in the Navy Reserves for 24. 

Crofut is the commanding officer of Navy Reserves Military Sealift Command Cargo Afloat Rig Team (MSC CART) headquarters. He leads five CART units that enable the safe and efficient transfer of fuel, cargo and ordnance to Navy forces at sea.  

“I’m responsible for the warfighting readiness, administration and operational employment of 166 sailors through five subordinate officers-in-charge," Crofut said.

He's been stationed at Newport, Rhode Island; Norfolk, Virginia; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and Djibouti, Africa.  

“I’ve had the great fortune to visit many countries and can say that the U.S. is the greatest country in the world, and I believe that we each have a duty to give back in whatever way we can,” he said. 

Thomas “Trey” Dewey Bennett 

A welder for 11 years with our engineering team out of Alvin, Texas, Bennett joined the Army at age 18. While active, he served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea. 

Today he serves in the Texas Army National Guard as first sergeant for a company-sized element of field artillery (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System or HIMARS) soldiers.  

“I’m responsible for the health, welfare, good order and discipline of up to 125 soldiers,” he said. He’s also responsible for the timely and accurate artillery fires for eight HIRS launchers and crews. 

BNSF allows employees like Bennett paid time off to complete required duties for drill days, annual training and, in his case, Army schools necessary to accomplish his duties.

“BNSF provides me the security of knowing that my job is waiting for me when I get back, allowing me to provide for my family,” he said. 

Holly Hughes 

A special projects manager for signal systems out of Kansas City, Kansas, Hughes has been with the railroad for 19 years and served in the Air Force Reserves for four, including at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Bangor, Maine, and overseas deployments to Suda Bay, Greece, and Al Udeid, Qatar.  

As a 5-level crew chief on KC-135 Stratotanker air refuelers, Hughes performs maintenance on the aircraft, from changing tires to refueling for its next mission. She also works closely with pilots before each flight, performing walk-around inspections and checking that all flight controls are working properly before takeoff. 

“Serving is important to me because it allows me to be part of something bigger than myself,” Hughes said. “My father served in Vietnam, and growing up with that example gave me a deep respect for the sacrifices made by those who serve. Being able to follow in that spirit of service and do my part to help protect our country and support a secure future for my family means a great deal to me." 

David Poor 

When he joined BNSF seven years ago as a carman in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Poor was serving with the Iowa Army National Guard and had been for 14 years. 

“BNSF, my supervisors and co-workers have been extremely supportive of my military duties,” he said. “BNSF has shown great flexibility when it comes to my military training scheduling. Some of this training has directly assisted me at BNSF, where I was able to use my military record and qualifications to obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license through a reciprocity program with South Dakota.” 

In his 21 years of service, Poor has been stationed in Korea, Germany, Panama, Syria, Jordan and Kuwait. Currently he’s an Infantry Mortar Platoon Sergeant in a cavalry troop. In March he returned from deployment in the Middle East where he was Battle NCO (non-commissioned officer) for the base defense operations center in Syria. He was responsible for base defense and security, patrol and battle tracking, and coordination with adjacent units and partner forces. 

David Wichman 

Wichman, a laborer for our Topeka, Kansas, locomotive maintenance facility, has served more than 30 years, beginning with the Army in 1992. He then served with the New York Army National Guard and currently is with the Kansas Army National Guard. 

He was deployed to New York City after Sept. 11, 2001, and has also supported operations in Iraq, Afghanistan as well as at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

“Over the course of my career, I have served in a variety of roles,” he said. “In my current position as Transportation Sergeant Major for the 35th Infantry Division G4 section, I coordinate the movement of division and subordinate-unit personnel and equipment worldwide.” 

Serving is important to Wichman because he’s seen firsthand the positive impact, both overseas and at home.  

“As an embedded trainer abroad, I supported improvements in the lives of people in less fortunate communities,” he said. “In the U.S., we have supported missions ranging from border security to disaster relief, positively affecting the lives of our family, friends and neighbors.” 

To all the active members of the military as well as those who serve in the National Guard or Reserves, thank you for your service to ensure our continued freedom.