Ann Dahl never imagined she would one day become a trailblazer in the field of nuclear power. But that’s exactly what happened when she was hired as one of the first female instrumentation and controls technicians at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, Miss.

Dahl, who retired from Grand Gulf back in 2018 after nearly two decades at the plant, looks back on her time at Grand Gulf with immense gratitude. “I owe my good life to Grand Gulf and the benefits it gave me and my family,” she said. “I’m blessed for having worked there. It’s still supporting me in my retirement. It is the best place to work.”

Dahl’s journey at Grand Gulf began in the 1980s, when the plant was still in its early stages of operation. She was drawn to the challenging work and the opportunity to utilize her technical skills. As an instrumentation and control technician, Dahl was responsible for conducting surveillance testing, ensuring the plant’s critical systems were functioning properly.

“I liked working with my hands and fixing things,” Dahl explains. “It was a perfect fit for me.” Her strong work ethic and dedication quickly earned her the respect of her colleagues, many of whom were men.

“It was a man’s world, but I just kept my head down and did my work,” Dahl said. “My motto was to do your job and prove yourself through your work.” This unwavering commitment to excellence paved the way for Dahl’s advancement within the company.

Over the years, Dahl took on additional responsibilities, including serving as the plant’s first human performance industrial safety coordinator. In this role, she conducted root cause analyses and developed charts to help improve overall human performance across the fleet.

Dahl’s impact on the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station extended beyond her technical expertise. She loved the plant’s family-oriented culture and even encouraged her son to work there.

“Grand Gulf was a great place to work that gave me and my family great benefits,” Dahl said. “It was a very family-oriented place, and that meant a lot to me.”

Now in retirement, Dahl looks back on her career with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment. She hopes her story will inspire other women to pursue careers in the nuclear industry, a field that has traditionally been dominated by men.

“I never had a job as good as Grand Gulf,” Dahl said. “It was the best place to work, and I’m grateful for the opportunities it gave me. I hope other women can find the same fulfillment and success that I did.”