McCarthy Building’s Charles Wrightington: Service, In and Out of the Military

Charles (Chuck) Wrightington is Houston Divisional Safety Director with McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. He retired from the U.S. Army in 2012 with the rank of Command Sergeant Major, after 31 years of active duty. His deployments included stints with Operation Desert Storm (the first Gulf War), two years in Iraq, and one year in Afghanistan. Connect Media asked Command Sergeant Major Wrightington about his job, and military career. We thank him for his service, and are proud to present his story to our readers.

Q. What, exactly does your job as Divisional Safety Manager entail, and what is the appeal?
A. The Divisional Safety Manager manages multiple project locations for safety, provides leadership to other safety professionals, and provides solutions to problems. I believe strongly that having compassion for people is an important trait, and by being a safety professional I can ensure people are getting treated like they deserve to be treated, with compassion and respect for their welfare. I have always enjoyed being around construction, and I especially take great pride in being part of challenging projects that have been completed with safety being a prime consideration.

Q. Why did you decide to serve in the U.S. Army?
A. It was a family tradition to perform military service. I just took it a little farther by serving 31 years in the Army! The camaraderie, loyalty, and teamwork in the military is second to none, so it was an easy decision to serve for that long. At one point, I had approximately 600 people that I wanted to ensure that they got home safely to their families. To do that, it was important to display confidence, have a positive outlook, and be a role model that people would want to emulate. Also important was impressing upon everyone the importance of not taking unnecessary risks, and to look out for each other – being their brothers’ keepers.

Q. Did some of the things you experienced while serving your country carry over to the business world?
A. It was very easy for me to transition into the civilian world. The traits I mentioned that are important in the military also translate well into any business. In the Army, hard work, perseverance, and treating people with respect made you a successful soldier. Utilizing the skills that make a successful soldier also go a long way towards being part of a successful business.

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