Indigenous Veterans Day, Remembrance Day and Veterans Day: This is me, Scott

On Nov. 8, we recognize Indigenous Veterans Day, and on Nov. 11, Remembrance and Veterans Day in Canada and the U.S. This is a time to honour those who served our country selflessly to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

This year, we spoke to Scott Cox, a maintenance mechanic who shared his story about his time with the U.S. Navy and how those experiences continue to guide his work at TC Energy.

Meet Scott

My name is Scott, and I've been with TC Energy for the past 25 years. I'm a maintenance mechanic at the Files Creek Compressor Station in West Virginia. Outside of my role, I like to fish and complete home improvement projects around the house. I live on about 16 acres, so working on the property keeps me busy. While I don’t have any animals myself, I let a neighbour keep cattle on my land, and I get meat from them in exchange. Additionally, I have twin daughters, so my wife and I travel quite a bit down to St. Petersburg, FL, to visit them where they both work as laboratory scientists.

Scott and his family.

Like father, like son

I consider my father my inspiration for joining the armed forces. He served as an aviation machinist mate in the Navy¹, so naturally I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I also wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after high school at the time, so I figured I’d enlist, travel a little bit and get my education. Before I left home to join the armed forces, my father made sure to remind me to make the best of it and try to learn something. We ended up serving on complete opposites of the military spectrum—he worked on aircrafts above ground, while I was in underwater submarines.

Father and son: Scott's father (l) and Scott (r) in the Navy.

Service under the surface

I served in the Navy from 1993-1997 as a Machinist’s Mate (MM)². I was stationed on a submarine and was deployed to quite a few places including Connecticut, Scotland, Norway, Portugal and Nova Scotia. At each station, we never stayed long—only pulling into the port for about a week, then back at sea. One of the most challenging parts was how long we were submerged—the longest stretch for me was 86 consecutive days. After such prolonged periods underwater, surfacing felt like re-entering a different world, leaving me pale from the absence of sunlight. However, one of my proudest moments was standing what they call Battle Stations Plainsman watch, where I piloted the submarine during hostilities or emergencies.

From submarine to compressor station

My time in the military, shortly after the Gulf War, taught me invaluable skills that translated directly to my work at TC Energy today. As a Machinist’s Mate, I worked on diesel engines, hydraulics, air systems and refrigeration systems—much like what I do as a maintenance mechanic here. Serving on a submarine with people from all across the country enhanced my ability to work effectively with diverse teams, while the military’s emphasis on leadership and communication continues to serve me well daily. The military also instilled in me the importance of adaptability. Change can happen at any moment, and on a submarine, our collective success and safety depended on our ability to adapt quickly as a team and work together towards a common goal. That same mindset guides my work at TC Energy every day.

Building connections

As Veterans, we all have unique stories. We’ve experienced places and events that most people never will. To me, Nov. 11 is important because without Veterans, we wouldn’t have the freedoms that we do today. Serving in the military is a meaningful role and I’m proud to have helped protect my nation. It’s also a day to honour those who didn’t make it back—a reminder that we fought for them too.

I joined TC Vets, an employee inclusion network at TC Energy, to stay informed about what’s happening in the company and to remain connected with others who have served. For me, it’s about continuing the camaraderie and shared experience we all value.

¹An Aviation Machinist's Mate (AD) is a highly trained technician responsible for maintaining, repairing and inspecting aircraft engines and related systems. These professionals play a critical role in ensuring the operational readiness and safety of aircraft in a variety of missions. In the Navy, ADs serve at sea and ashore.

² A Machinist’s Mate is responsible for operating and responsible for operating, maintaining and repairing the ship's engines, auxiliary systems and other mechanical equipment. Their duties often include working on propulsion systems, refrigeration and air conditioning units, hydraulic systems and other machinery critical to the ship's operation.