For almost 24 years, Doyle Henderson served his country in the Navy. By the time he suffered an accident on the job that left him with traumatic brain injury and other permanent disabilities, he'd been running communications operations manned by 120 people across two oceans. Now a general maintenance worker for Professional Contract Services Inc. in Portsmouth, Virginia, Henderson continues his commitment to excellence in what was a major professional shift.
"I can honestly sit here and tell you that I love what I do," he said. "I became good at what I do. I took a bad situation that I was in at the time and my whole outlook on life has changed since walking in here and having this opportunity."
Because of his dedication to his job, the example he sets for others and his dedication to fellow veterans, Henderson was selected as the AbilityOne Honor Roll for Veterans Award.
"I'm very humbled and honored to have been chosen for this award, especially knowing the competition out there," he said. "I've had a long, hard road to get to here, and it feels really good to know your managers, your supervisors and your coworkers feel that way about you."
Henderson's is a familiar and friendly face known throughout the hospital where he works, said Chad Cloutier, assistant project manager at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, PCSI, who nominated Henderson for the award. He says Henderson makes it a point to encourage patients and coworkers, particularly other veterans with disabilities.
"What he does is he leaves it all on the field – that's his motto," Cloutier said. "He does it on the daily basis. I see that. I see the results. Sometimes he's filthy—he's covered in paint, drywall dust, sweat—he goes above and beyond."
Cloutier said that during a recent active shooter lockdown at the hospital, Henderson took the lead among dozens of employees to barricade the room, reduce panic and secure the area during the eight-to-10-hour episode.
"That was a scary day for all," Cloutier said. "Doyle corralled as many people as he could into a classroom, barred the door with tables, shut the lights off and remained calm, instructed people to keep quiet. There was not just civilians but also military active duty, a commander in the room as well. Doyle took charge."
The lockdown eventually ended peacefully, and Henderson continued on with an upbeat attitude and tireless work ethic, Cloutier said.
That decision to work hard is a conscious choice, Henderson said. In the wake of his injuries, Henderson was advised by a Veterans Affairs representative to take his retirement, disability and other benefits and "live the good life."
But Henderson disagreed. The husband and father of three said he still wanted to contribute, he had something to give. But finding meaningful work was a challenge.
"It was hard," he said. "When you suffer traumatic brain injury, you're not as sharp as you once were. I went through a lot of different jobs going nowhere."
Convincing potential employers to take on someone with a significant disability proved difficult.
"Some employers assume you're a liability," Henderson said. "I never wanted anything given to me, I just wanted a chance. I don't feel like I got that in other jobs."
Then he met a PCSI employee at a party who suggested he put in an application. Days later, he had a part-time job that became full-time a few months later.
"When I came here, everybody else had something going on," he said, referring to the fact that PCSI employs people with disabilities from his location as well as their Austin, Texas headquarters. "I wasn't any different than anyone else."
There was a substantial learning curve, but Henderson embraced the change.
"They handed me a wrench and they told me, ‘We're gonna teach you to do this, we're gonna teach you to do that,'" he said. "You listen, you have a couple of good guys you get with and they teach you."
When in doubt, Henderson ventures online to pick up a new skill.
"There's an answer on YouTube for anything," he said, laughing.
Due to the TBI, Henderson's thinking patterns and mental processes have changed, as has his perspective on life.
"I just am slower than I used to be," he said. "I'm not the sharp senior chief that ran communications for the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean at the same time. I can't make split-second, multiple decisions at the same time. I have to think. Maybe that's not such a bad thing. I think a lot of it's about attitude. You take what you got and you try to work with it. That's what I do."