When Sandia’s labs are quiet and Sandians are home asleep, the work of saving the mission happens.

Unnoticed, an exhaust fan in a research lab fails in the dead of night, triggering an alarm. Without it, hazardous fumes could accumulate. A team mobilizes. Calls are made. Teams arrive on-site. They diagnose, then fix the problem. By sunrise, the system is back online.

Nathan Garcia, a mechanical team lead, has been in that moment more times than he can count.

“On New Year’s morning, at 1:30 a.m., I got a call that one of the major exhaust fans went down in the Emergency Operations Center,” Nathan said. “I called craft out. They assessed the situation, and by morning, we figured it out.”

When employees showed up for work, no one even knew what happened.

This is the world of the Facilities Control System at Sandia — a hidden network of people and technology ensuring critical mechanical systems function seamlessly across Sandia New Mexico and California.

A system that never sleeps

Facilities Control System tracks tens of thousands of pieces of mechanical equipment and more than half a million data points, controlling boilers, chillers, air handlers, exhaust fans, laboratory clean rooms and much more. It’s similar to a giant smart home but a lot more complex and higher stakes.

It safeguards research, protects critical lab components and ensures personnel can work in stable environments. When something goes wrong, Facilities Control System helps coordinate a response.

Alarms rarely go off during the workday; they usually sound in the dead of night.

“A lot of people go home thinking this place shuts down, but it runs 24-7,” said Mike Rymarz, a Facilities Control System specialist. “Our work happens even when no one sees it, and the systems we maintain are critical to keeping everything running.”

“Nobody knows we’re there,” Nathan said, which is an aspect of his job he really enjoys.

“The customers are none the wiser, and I think that’s the key,” Mike said. “We’re kind of the wizard behind the curtain.”

A small team with a big job

Facilities Control System operates with a surprisingly small team: five full-time staff members, three contractors, five mechanical team leads and a network of skilled craftworkers who handle maintenance and repairs.

“The amount of equipment we manage with our limited resources is staggering,” Mechanical Services manager Kelly Bouska said. “We have around 48,000 pieces of mechanical equipment under our watch.”

Failures don’t happen on a schedule. Whenever issues arise, the team responds, they assess, troubleshoot and do whatever it takes to get things back up and running before the next shift starts.

Fixing for the future

Facilities Control System prevents crises, too. A key part of its mission involves predictive maintenance, using data to anticipate and address failures before they happen.

“In the past, we reacted when equipment broke,” Kelly said. “Now, we’re looking forward — analyzing trends, performing preventive maintenance and ensuring our systems last as long as possible.”

By tracking system performance, identifying early warning signs and optimizing maintenance schedules, Facilities Control System reduces downtime and extends the life of critical equipment. Some of the system’s components still run on legacy systems. Making a data-driven future a reality will mean upgrading thousands of control points, replacing outdated systems and integrating smarter technology.

Fortunately, the system is moving toward a smarter, more connected system thanks to Mike, who is also a DOE certified energy manager.

“We’re kind of on the pulse of where’s the industry going, what kind of equipment is coming out, what are its features,” Mike said. “So that we can figure out how do we implement that into Sandia’s future.”

Every upgrade strengthens the system’s ability to identify potential failures, but it must also adhere to Sandia’s stringent standards. Balancing reliability and advanced technology requires careful planning and execution.

“Security and safety of a national laboratory are extremely important,” said Mike. “You can’t just plug something into the wall. It’s got to have specific security plans that keep it safe.”

Mike plays a key role making Facilities Control System more modern. He helps integrate upgrades and new technology while making sure new and existing components meet Sandia’s requirements.

Meanwhile, Sandia’s mission never stops. Buildings and labs must keep running day and night.

Going unnoticed

For all their work, the Mechanical Services team doesn’t seek recognition. They take pride in keeping the Labs operational — often without anyone ever noticing a problem.

“I don’t like to be held up high,” Nathan said.

That humble sense of purpose runs deep.

Mike, who has worked in Facilities Control System for decades, put it this way: “If we do our job effectively, they never know we’re here.”

Their reward isn’t the spotlight but knowing their efforts keep Sandia’s mission moving forward. The team doesn’t wait for recognition. They just keep working — unseen, unsung and undeniably important.