For John Edling, military service taught him how to keep a level head and lead people through changing circumstances. For Scott Barrios, it reinforced the importance of trusting teammates and bringing different skills together to accomplish a shared goal.
Today, both apply those lessons at Entergy Texas. They are among 133 Entergy employees based in Texas who are veterans or have active military status.
This Veterans Day, we’re recognizing their service and sharing how their experiences continue to shape their work, relationships and their mission to serve our communities in Southeast Texas.
John Edling: Keeping perspective and leading others
Edling grew up in The Woodlands and joined the Marine Corps with a goal of serving in the infantry. After training in California, he served in the Marine Corps Reserve in Houston, progressing from rifleman to squad and platoon leadership responsibilities during his eight years of service.
His military experience took him far beyond Texas. Through Partnership of the Americas, he traveled to South America to help train military personnel from other countries, including helicopter and boat operations in Chile.
Edling pictured in a military vehicle during his service in Chile.
Working with people from different backgrounds taught him to adapt, communicate and understand what others needed to succeed.
“The military teaches you to work with all kinds of people and keep a level head when circumstances change,” said Edling. “That experience helps me manage expectations and work through challenges with the people I serve and work alongside today.”
As a customer service manager, Edling serves the Huntsville network, including Trinity and its surrounding communities. He helps connect Entergy Texas with the communities it serves, coordinating with local stakeholders and colleagues to address customer needs.
Edling (furthest right) pictured with the Entergy Texas customer service team at the Legend and Lone Star Power Station groundbreaking ceremony on April 9, 2026.
He has been with Entergy Texas for more than four years, previously serving as a customer analyst and stakeholder engagement coordinator.
For Edling, Veterans Day is a time to recognize the sacrifices of others, including his grandfather, who served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II.
Scott Barrios: Trusting the team
Barrios joined the Marine Corps shortly after high school in 1998, seeking adventure and an opportunity to see the world. He didn’t expect that decision to become a 20-year active-duty career.
He began in the infantry in Hawaii and later became a scout sniper, deploying throughout Asia. Near the end of his first enlistment, he planned to leave the military and attend college. The Sept. 11 attacks changed his plans, and he reenlisted.
His career eventually took him into counterintelligence and human intelligence, with multiple deployments throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, including five years with Marine Corps special operations.
Barrios pictured on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima, Japan.
Those experiences taught him to rely on teammates with different areas of expertise, a lesson he carries into his day-to-day work as manager of regulatory affairs.
“Everyone brings a different skill set, and you have to trust each other to accomplish the mission,” said Barrios. “I experience the same thing at Entergy Texas when I’m working with engineers, customer service and various other teams. We bring our expertise together to better serve our customers.”
Scott Barrios (second from the left) pictured at the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Barrios joined Entergy in Louisiana in 2019 and began working with Entergy Texas in 2024.
For him, Veterans Day is also a reminder to reconnect. With the Marine Corps birthday on Nov. 10 followed by Veterans Day on Nov. 11, he makes time to check in with friends from his years of service.
Thank you for your service
This Veterans Day, we thank Edling, Barrios and all our military veterans for their service to our country, and the experience, leadership and dedication they bring to our communities.
