Dan Hommel, a 1997 graduate of Pahrump Valley High School, has built a life rooted in service, technical excellence, and faith. Now a Senior Operations Technician at Desert Star Energy Center—a combined cycle power generation facility south of Boulder City—Dan lives in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife Jessica. While his professional career has taken him through nuclear power plants and complex energy systems, it all began with a small-town education, a tight-knit circle of friends, and a love for learning.
During his time at PVHS in the 1990s, Dan was active in several extracurricular activities that helped shape his interests and strengths. He was a member of both the yearbook and school newspaper staff—classes he fondly remembers for the creative freedom allowed by his teacher, Mrs. Apodaca. Physics with Mr. Nygaard left a lasting impression, providing him with a strong academic foundation that would later prove essential in his military and professional training. Outside the classroom, Dan enjoyed simple moments with friends, like spending lunch hours out on the practice field kicking a hacky sack around. He also loved attending school plays, especially those featuring his twin brother Steve. Though he wasn’t on stage himself, Dan remembers running the soundboard for a couple of productions.
After high school, Dan enlisted in the U.S. Navy, a decision that launched a journey of technical training and global service. He completed Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, followed by Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida, and then Nuclear Prototype School and Engineering Laboratory Technician C-School near Charleston, South Carolina. He was assigned to the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), where he spent the remainder of his six-year enlistment working in the Reactor Department. His duties included analytical chemistry, radiological controls, and watchstanding to operate the ship’s power plant systems.
While on the Nimitz, Dan experienced life at sea during significant transitions and deployments. The aircraft carrier was first stationed in the Newport News Shipyard for refueling and refitting before undergoing sea trials in Norfolk. Once sea-ready, it sailed around Cape Horn to change homeport to San Diego—a voyage so rough that waves occasionally reached the flight deck. Later, the ship deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where Dan and the Reactor Department not only managed the vessel’s power and propulsion but also generated steam for the flight deck’s catapults.
Following his honorable discharge, Dan attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with plans to teach physical sciences. He completed his student teaching at Cimarron Memorial High School, but life soon redirected his path. With a growing family and a desire to homeschool their children, Dan and Jessica realized that a single teacher’s income wouldn’t suffice. Dan turned to the power generation industry—an area where his Navy training gave him a competitive edge.
He accepted a position as a plant operator at a commercial nuclear power facility near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, eventually transitioning into an operations instructor role. His employer sent him to Atlanta for certification through the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). Though professionally fulfilling, the harsh Midwestern winters became too much after five years, and the Hommel family made the decision to return to Nevada. Dan has now been working at Desert Star Energy Center for over thirteen years.
Throughout his career, Dan has remained deeply committed to education, mentoring, and faith. He holds a Master of Arts in Religion and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Practical Theology—taking one class at a time with the goal of serving God in his retirement years. While he never became a professional schoolteacher, he has actively taught in his local homeschooling community. Dan played a key role in helping Henderson Christian Homeschoolers (HCH) obtain 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and served on the board as both treasurer and president. Through HCH, he taught a wide range of subjects including elementary art, LEGO robotics, and high school-level physics and chemistry.
Though no longer active in the homeschool community, Dan has continued teaching through Club Christ, a faith-based afterschool program where he tutors underprivileged students. He’s also been a guest presenter for physics classes at Lake Mead Christian Academy and remains active in his church, where he leads a Bible study group and recently served as a deacon.
Dan’s personal life is just as full and fulfilling. His wife, Jessica, whom he’s been married to for more than 25 years, is also from Pahrump. Though she was homeschooled and did not attend PVHS, their shared values and long-standing friendship have been the foundation of their family. Jessica has taken her turn in the classroom as well, recently accepting a position as a middle school English teacher at Lake Mead Christian Academy.
The couple has two sons. Their oldest, Andrew, is 20 and completing his college degree online through Liberty University after a year in Biola University’s Torrey Honors program. He enjoys playing piano, streaming and programming video games, and working with kids at Engineering For Kids to teach STEM skills. Their youngest son, Noah, is 17 and beginning his senior year of high school. An artist and storyteller at heart, Noah has an interest in the practical effects used in films and may one day pursue a career in that field.
Outside of work and family, Dan is an avid reader, often juggling several books at once. While his studies have recently focused on theology and church history, he also enjoys classic fiction and makes good use of his commute time by listening to audiobooks.
Dan’s life has been anything but ordinary. It’s a story of service, discipline, learning, and faith—guided by purpose rather than convenience. Whether operating a power plant, mentoring students, or raising a family with shared values, Dan Hommel continues to live out a mission that began decades ago on the campus of Pahrump Valley High School.
