When Brooke Williamson joined the U.S. Army, she knew she would be facing some of the greatest challenges of her life. Upon completing her basic training and preparing to go to advanced individual training, her drill sergeant told her, “You earned your place here in the Army. You are where you are supposed to be.”
Brooke would go on to become the 56th woman to ever be integrated into field artillery. She would carry what her drill sergeant told her into every challenge she faced, task she took on, and position she held.
Today, Brooke is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Compliance Advisor for CRC and ensures the safe transport of oil and gas in our operations. In addition to regular DOT task monitoring, she works closely with CRC’s Mechanical Integrity group and Operations department for audit preparation and presentations. She also oversees CRC’s DOT Operator Qualification, DOT Drug and Alcohol, and DOT Public Awareness programs. It is her responsibility to continuously demonstrate that CRC not only meets but exceeds industry standards as part of our commitment to safety.
Brooke was initially unsure about what kind of career she wanted to start after her four years of service in the Army. She knew she wanted to do hands-on work that involved a lot of teamwork. One of the hardest parts of leaving the Army for her was leaving the team environment her service had provided. She had family members who enjoyed their jobs in the oil and natural gas industry and decided to start applying for roles in this field. Brooke’s first role in the industry was as a data entry clerk in 2012 where she learned the functions of the midstream stage of oil and gas operations on an intimate level. From there, she branched out and began working with different teams within the industry, including those focused on operations, legal compliance, pipelining, facility inspection, and Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping. Her experience in Midstream Operations allowed her to develop her regulatory background and the desire to see things from regulators' perspective.
Brooke credits her role with CRC in helping her overcome her fear of public speaking. When Brooke was first hired in 2022, within a month, she was confronted with her first audit. While it was challenging, it also allowed her to take a step back and watch how everyone around her handled the audit and the different processes they used to meet the requirements. During her second audit, she was given opportunities to present to regulators. She initially found this intimidating, but she reminded herself of how she learned during her military service that we are all humans regardless of rank and that it’s important to pay more attention to the tasks at hand and the responsibilities of everyone in the room. To develop her public speaking skills further, Brooke took public speaking classes, one of which was offered by CRC to employees.
Brooke credits the support and mentorship she received from her leaders at CRC in encouraging her to share new ideas and pursue other opportunities that would help her grow. This growth led to her recent election as Board President of the Pipeline Association for Public Awareness, which promotes open communication and cooperation with national organizations to enhance public safety, improve emergency preparedness, protect the environment, and prevent damage to property and facilities. She previously joined the association’s excavator committee and public affairs committee, overseeing the creation of newsletters and helping to spread the association’s messages.
Brooke’s service in the Army taught her that no challenge was too big to keep her from getting the job done. Having her daughter while she was in the service drove that lesson even deeper, as she wanted the same ideologies for her. Today, in addition to her rewarding career, Brooke enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering with the American Youth Soccer Organization as Head Coach, which allows her to engage and encourage young girls to work as a team and push themselves to achieve their goals.
Thank you, Brooke, for being a CRC Champion and representing our core values of Character, Responsibility, and Commitment.