Safety first, second and third: Kathy Fitzgerald, document control administrator

Two decades ago, Kathy Fitzgerald took a hard look at her career. In her words, ​“I wanted to contribute to something bigger, alongside people who would push me to be better.”

She found exactly what she was looking for at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. At Argonne, Fitzgerald found herself surrounded by a community of exceptional colleagues, all committed to the mission of scientific innovation.

“I came to Argonne for the chance to learn from people smarter than me and to serve a purpose that matters,” Fitzgerald said. ​“I’ve stayed because the work has real, measurable impact, and the people here elevate me every day.”

Several years after joining Argonne in the Environmental Research division, Fitzgerald faced a new challenge. She was recruited to help stand up the newly formed Nuclear Operations division, which would later adopt the name Nuclear, Waste and Site Services (NWS).

“Building a division from the ground up — under intense scrutiny and on a tight timeline — was a challenge and an education,” she recalled.

“I came to Argonne for the chance to learn from people smarter than me and to serve a purpose that matters. I’ve stayed because the work has real, measurable impact, and the people here elevate me every day.” — Kathy Fitzgerald, document control administrator at Argonne

Fortunately, she had a great team. They helped her design governance and procedures, close findings, stand up training and readiness processes, establish clear performance metrics and align operations with mission needs without compromising safety.

Fitzgerald explained, ​“This experience set the foundation for how I approach complex problems and build durable, high-performing teams today.”

That approach informs Fitzgerald’s current work as a document control administrator for NWS. They help her turn ambiguous challenges into reliable, repeatable systems.

Day to day, Fitzgerald manages divisional webpages and file directories to streamline how information is securely stored and shared. She drafts and quality-checks presentations, transmittals and reports; facilitates issue debriefs and post-job learning; and serves as the Lessons Learned point of contact.

“I built our division’s document control and records management program from the ground up and have sustained it through multiple reorganizations,” she said. ​“My job now is to keep the right information accurate, traceable and accessible so people can do their jobs safely and efficiently.”

Argonne accelerates the science and technology that drives U.S. prosperity and security. Argonne staff are thinkers, builders, problem-solvers and caretakers — every person and every role contributes to the laboratory’s impact on the world.

For more than twenty years, Fitzgerald has been showing up with enthusiasm for her colleagues and the greater Argonne community. It is no surprise that she was nominated to be featured in the We Are Argonne campaign.

Fitzgerald is very happy with where her career has taken her and highly recommends records management and document control.

“I build processes that lower risk and raise performance,” she said with pride. ​“This field isn’t mere ​‘paper pushing’ — it’s the backbone of safe, compliant and effective operations and a deeply rewarding career for anyone who likes helping teams do high-stakes work with confidence.”

Robust records and configuration control protect workers, the public and the environment. Clear communication and accessible information helps regulators, sponsors and community stakeholders understand what Argonne does and why it matters.

By making her division’s operations more dependable and its knowledge easier to use, Fitzgerald helps Argonne deliver on its mission responsibly and efficiently, providing tangible value to the nation. Her work directly increases safety, compliance and transparency — pillars of public trust.

“The stakes are real — people, facilities, the broader community — and that sense of purpose is simultaneously exciting and humbling,” she admitted.

To carry out these weighty responsibilities, Fitzgerald lives out Argonne’s Core Values.

“Impact keeps me focused on outcomes, not activity. Safety means I plan, pause and speak up to protect people and facilities,” she said. ​“Respect shapes how I listen and give credit. Integrity guides my decisions, especially when it’s hard or inconvenient. Teamwork reminds me to share information, ask for help and collaborate across boundaries.”