Health & Safety Specialist Justin Rodgers poses with his daughter at her school.
For Justin Rodgers, safety isn’t just a job—it’s a calling rooted in decades of service. Born and raised in New Mexico, Justin is a Health & Safety Specialist on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) team supporting Pattern Energy’s SunZia project in the state.
With a background in emergency medical services and wind energy, Justin brings a deep commitment to safety, service, and community, both on and off the job. Whether he’s in the field with safety teams or out in the wild, guiding veterans on a hunt, one thing is always top of mind: protecting others.
Safety first, no matter the job
In Justin’s role, success on the SunZia project is all about supporting his team members in the field, ensuring they are safely able to hit important construction milestones on the project. The teams he works with are not only his responsibility, but also the main reason he likes working with Pattern.
“The people are definitely what has me sold on this company,” Justin says. “The open communication, the safety culture, the organization as a whole—I’m sold!”
Before joining Pattern, Justin worked in emergency medical services, most recently doing dispatch work in rural New Mexico. His commitment to safety goes beyond just his vocation—Justin is an advanced medic with a national and state license. (He even travels with an AED and a first-aid kit of his own).
“I take it with me everywhere,” he says.
Because Justin had also worked in wind energy before, transitioning to his safety-focused role at Pattern was a no-brainer.
Justin, with his wife.
What sets Pattern apart
Though he is still new to Pattern, Justin has already seen firsthand what makes the company special.
“This company is more like family,” he says. He recently fell on some hard times. Justin’s family was struck by tragedy when his nephew, who he raised for seven years, took his own life. The event rocked Justin, and his family, but his colleagues at Pattern helped him get through it—support he doesn’t think his other work environments would have afforded him.
“I never once had to worry about my job,” he says. “Pattern made sure that I was able to get my feet under me. I had the support I needed, and they allowed me to be with my family.”
Justin with fellow veterans on a big game hunt.
A teacher, a guide, and a community builder
When he’s not on-site, Justin is outside, enjoying the natural beauty of New Mexico in the way he loves best—by hunting big game, particularly predators like coyotes and mountain lions. Justin considers himself an avid outdoorsman, and he shares that love of nature with his family as often as he can.
“I love taking my children to explore the outdoors,” he says.
Not only is hunting a way for Justin to connect with nature and with his own family, he also uses hunting as a means of community building. As a veteran, Justin pays it forward by taking fellow veterans and first responders on guided hunting and fishing trips.
When he’s not hunting, Justin gives back to his community in another way—by helping others learn important safety skills. He teaches CPR, First Aid, wilderness medicine, babysitting safety, and more.
When asked what safety tip he lives by, Justin gets personal.
“Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing,” he says. “I’m talking about walking out the door to support your family—and remembering that they’re counting on you to walk back in every day.”
That perspective, grounded in experience and empathy, is what makes Justin a steady presence on the SunZia team—and it’s a powerful reminder that safety starts with people.