Last updated: March 7, 2025
Article
Latinx Experiences at Hanford: Frank Armijo
Photo courtesy of Frank Armijo
Many people in the Tri-Cities have origin stories that include migration, dedication to family, hard work and contributions to the community. The origin stories of Latinas and Latinos are no different. The Hanford Latinx Experiences oral history interviews share the experiences of just a handful of the many Latinas and Latinos who have contributed unique skills to the development of the Manhattan Project, to Hanford, and to the Tri-Cities. These stories reflect the lives of many people who helped build a place that hundreds of thousands call home today.
Frank Armijo’s parents were initially migrant farm workers from Texas who had met in Walla Walla. On one of the family’s work trips to the state, Frank’s dad, Rosalio, picked up additional work with a construction company that brought the family to the Tri-Cities around the early-1960s. Frank attended McLaughlin Middle School and Pasco High School. At Columbia Basin College, he discovered that he possessed exceptional skills in computer science which would lead him into a long career in technology and business at Hanford for fifteen years. Frank became the president of the Hanford Mission Support Alliance contract in his role at Lockheed Martin. Passionate about his work, Frank led many efforts to diversify the economy of the Tri-Cities area while also co-founding the Hispanic Academic Achievers Program (HAAP) in the late 1980s. Frank shares memories growing up in Pasco, his joy and passion in the work that he accomplished at Hanford, and advice for youth.
Listen to audio clips from Frank's interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024
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Frank talks about his family's migration story
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Frank talks about his family's migration story in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank remembers growing up in Pasco
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Frank remembers growing up in Pasco in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank goes to CBC and Eastern Washington
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Frank discusses going to CBC and Eastern Washington in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank gets a job offer at Hanford
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Frank discusses getting a job offer at Hanford in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank describes his initial years at Hanford
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Frank describes his initial years at Hanford in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank gets a job at Lockheed Martin and co-found HAAP
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Frank discusses getting a job at Lockheed Martin and co-founding HAAP in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank shares his proudest moments at Hanford
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Frank shares his proudest moments at Hanford in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank shares a memory of a trip to DC with family
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Frank shares a memory of a trip to DC with family in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025
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Frank shares advice to youth
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Frank shares advice to youth in an interview with Drew Gamboa on August 25, 2024.
- Date created:
- 01/30/2025