Smart City Salutes our Troops

At Smart City Networks, we take immense pride in the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our team members. Several veterans who have served in various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are among them. Their stories are inspiring, and it was enlightening to learn about them throughout Military Appreciation Month. This Memorial Day, we were honored to share their stories and acknowledge their service to our country. You can read more about Smart City’s veterans on our blog.

For this issue of the Pinnacle, we wanted to share the contributions of Arnold Chavez, General Manager at Duke Energy Convention Center, and David King, Technician at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

“I served in the United States Navy from 2014-2021 as a Master-At-Arms. My first duty station was in Virginia providing static security for ships overseas. I was able to make my way to Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Greece, and Italy during this tour. After Virginia, I was stationed on Pearl Harbor Hawaii providing dynamic small boat security for assets transiting the harbor. My military service provided me with life-long memories and experiences I will never forget. Now that I am separated, I have the opportunity to attend college to better my future and that’s something I will always be grateful for.”David King – U.S. Navy

“I would like to share with you what happened on my first ship, USS Iwo-Jima, back in 1990. [Editor’s Note: In October of that year, the USS Iwo Jima experienced a catastrophic boiler accident, resulting in the loss of 10 lives]. I had less than 3 years in the Navy at the time of the incident. The reason I was spared from the accident was due to a transfer back to Norfolk Naval Station in VA for my scheduled “C” School, one week before the accident happened.This event haunts me to this day. I suppose that’s what they call survivor guilt. I knew all ten of the sailors that were killed. Being on a ship, we tend to be close to each other as we work and play together especially during 6-month long cruises. We were all like brothers and family. We did so many things together. We rely on each other. We support each other. I got your back, you got mine. Unfortunately, this happened.” Arnold Chavez – U.S. Navy