The wives and children of the few AEP Texas engineers witnessed their fathers and husbands receive the Order of the Engineer during a ceremony at the Pharr Service Center. The ceremony serves to reinforce the ethics of an engineer and the company's commitment to the public. 

The Order of the Engineer is an independent organization that promotes pride and responsibility within the engineering profession. As part of the ceremony, each inductee received a stainless-steel ring worn on the little finger of the working hand. The ring serves as a reminder to serve with honesty, skill, and care.

For Raul Gaytan, senior engineer, the ring represents as a daily reminder of his responsibility to the community.

"Personally, the ring is a daily, tangible reminder to act with integrity, humility and care, especially when decisions affect people's safety and livelihoods," Gaytan said. "Professionally, it reinforces my obligation to do technically sound work, to speak up when something isn't safe or right, and to mentor others."

The obligation reflects the responsibility engineers carry in serving communities and the public.