Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power Veteran Janisse Quiñones
A U.S. Coast Guard veteran now working in emergency management for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is reflecting on her military service and how it shaped her professional path. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she described serving the island as both humbling and meaningful, noting the Coast Guard’s critical role in managing vessel traffic, protecting marine ecosystems, and responding to natural disasters.
With fewer than 40,000 active-duty members, the Coast Guard is one of the smallest military branches, a factor she said allowed her to take on a wide range of responsibilities. As a direct commission engineer, she served aboard a 400-foot cutter, working in the engine room and electrical division and managing propulsion and power systems. She later specialized in emergency management, participating in helicopter fire-response teams, managing fire repair operations, and supporting large-scale missions such as the Deepwater Horizon cleanup.
Her final deployment was part of Operation Allies Welcome, where she helped establish morale, education, and cultural-assimilation programs for Afghans evacuated to the United States. Her work included supporting vulnerable populations, including women and children.
She said these experiences influence her current role at LADWP, where she focuses on preparing the utility for increasing climate-related emergencies. According to her, events once considered rare have become “blue sky operations,” requiring constant readiness while the department also advances long-term goals such as clean energy transition and water reliability.
#LADWP
With fewer than 40,000 active-duty members, the Coast Guard is one of the smallest military branches, a factor she said allowed her to take on a wide range of responsibilities. As a direct commission engineer, she served aboard a 400-foot cutter, working in the engine room and electrical division and managing propulsion and power systems. She later specialized in emergency management, participating in helicopter fire-response teams, managing fire repair operations, and supporting large-scale missions such as the Deepwater Horizon cleanup.
Her final deployment was part of Operation Allies Welcome, where she helped establish morale, education, and cultural-assimilation programs for Afghans evacuated to the United States. Her work included supporting vulnerable populations, including women and children.
She said these experiences influence her current role at LADWP, where she focuses on preparing the utility for increasing climate-related emergencies. According to her, events once considered rare have become “blue sky operations,” requiring constant readiness while the department also advances long-term goals such as clean energy transition and water reliability.
#LADWP