AI Integrity Engineer Chris Kobilan Returns Safely From Active Duty
"I am grateful to be back home and glad to live in the USA!"
LITTLETON, CO; September 9th, 2010 – American Innovations’ Integrity Management Division (IMD), a leading provider of Risk Intelligence™ Solutions and engineering consulting services for the pipeline industry, is happy to announce the safe return of Integrity Engineer Chris Kobilan. Kobilan has been on active duty in Afghanistan since March of 2009.
While in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Kobilan managed his battalion’s maintenance program. This included overseeing all maintenance operations, equipment recovery operations, safety, equipment repairs and 400 maintenance personnel. He succeeded in keeping his battalion's operational readiness above 97%, even with battle damaged equipment and equipment failures.
"Basically, I was the problem solver that had to find solutions to everything and anything that arose. I performed this job, 12 to 18 hours per day, 7 days a week non- stop for 12 months," explained Kobilan. "I was sure tired when I returned home." As an Integrity Engineer for American Innovations, Kobilan provides customers in the oil and gas industry with pipeline regulatory consulting and risk analysis services.
 In Afghanistan, Kobilan managed equipment assets, prioritized repairs and reported on the current status of equipment; as an Integrity Engineer for American Innovations, he provides oil and gas customers with risk analysis services for their pipelines.
While the military's process and data sets are different than AI's, the fundamental goals of Kobilan's military and risk management roles are the same: work safety and the proper maintenance of assets via technical expertise, educated supervision, strong engineering and efficient management. In each, Kobilan analyzed a number of influencing factors to make decisions. In the service, he analyzed data inputs on manpower, weapons, ammunition, routes and road conditions; for oil and gas customers, he evaluates pipeline age, environmental elements, consequence area, and government regulations among others. "I take all possible elements into consideration, and come up with a plan that gets the job done and keeps everyone safe," said Kobilan.
In August of 2009, American Innovations was granted the "Above and Beyond" award from the United States Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (EGSR) organization. The “Above and Beyond” award recognizes employers at a local level that have gone above and beyond the legal requirements for granting leave and providing support for military duty for their employees. Kobilan was granted a leave of absence to complete his tour and regained employment as soon as he returned home. American Innovations provides reservists and guardsmen extra military leave beyond the typical two weeks.
About American Innovations: American Innovations (AI) provides oil and gas companies with critical knowledge and decision support for assets and infrastructure via corrosion protection and integrity management services. The company supplies products and services to automate the collection, storage, and reporting of equipment and pipeline compliance data. Bass Engineering, a subsidiary of American Innovations, offers Cathodic Protection engineering services. AI offers Risk Intelligence software and a professional staff of integrity & compliance pipeline engineers for consulting, audit support, HCA & data services. American Innovations product lines include: Pipeline Compliance System (PCS), Allegro Field Data PC®. Bullhorn® Remote Monitoring, MicroMax® Current Interrupters, and Integrity Management via Risk Intelligence™ Software and Integrity & Compliance Services.
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